Bridging the gap with some very "sexy" engineering

and, it's right in my back yard! Well, close enough that I can wander through the park behind my house to watch.

Tonight's replacement of the Island Park bridges will make Canadian highway history, save millions of dollars, and give the public a look at adventurous engineering.

For the first time in Canada, a highway bridge will be replaced overnight using rapid-lift technology known as self-propelled modular transporters.

The new technique will reduce two years of traffic tieups to a mere 15 hours and save $2.4 million in traffic detour costs. It will also save time and money for motorists. ...

The "live cam" is up and working. The process is supposed to start tonight at 8pm EST and finish by noon tomorrow. There's an animation of it here.

I'm taking my lawn chair, my camera and my cooler!

"If you build it, they will come!"

UPDATE 9PM: Within an hour, they've almost completed both cuts across 7 lanes of the 417 ...




Update 9:45 Here goes the first piece ...




UDATE 11PM The first piece is headed for the staging area ...



It really is like watching paint dry. The second piece is almost clear ...



UPDATE Midnight The old pieces are tucked away for the night ... me too ...



UPDATE 6:45AM The new sections are in place ...




UPDATE 8AM The paving equipment is in place on the south side of the bridge, and the fill is nearing completion on the north.




Actually, they are paving the south side ...




..like a symphony ...




UPDATE 10AM The press arrives for a ribbon cutting ceremony and politicians get in the way. Freakin' predictable ....






UPDATE 11AM Two lanes to go ...



UPDATE 11:30AM Traffic eastbound in one lane ...



UPDATE NOON Almost ... just washing up ...



UPDATE almost 1PM One lane of traffic westbound ...



Nicely orchestrated ... bravo!!

That's it ... that's all.