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KFI 640 : New Tower Project 2008; TAKE 2!
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(Tuesday : August 12, 2008) These pictures were taken by Commander Chuck Street from the Mountain Dew Helicopter. Pictures one through four were taken in March of 2008, and the last four taken on August 12th.
(Monday : July 28, 2008) After a devastating loss of the new tower in March 2008, the new parts have arrived and the tower is going back up!
In December 2004, a small plane accident destroyed KFI's 750' antenna/tower built in 1947. 3 years and 3 months later, a shorter tower is being installed to replace the prior monolith. 8 days after the beginning of construction and at a height just under 300', an elevated guy anchor failed causing the tower to come down during construction.
This new tower is 75' shorter and incorporates a 50' diameter TOP HAT effectively increasing the electrical length of the antenna/tower. The tower will be guyed at 7 levels and include TORQUE ARMS just below the top to support the top hat. These pictures illustrate the design and construction.
(Wednesday : July 30, 2008) All the tower sections are built, the base insulator is installed, a single Austin Transformer is installed, the final painting of the new tower sections is being completed, and the bottom 75' of the tower is assembled and awaiting to go vertical. That's the good news! The new elevated guy anchor isn't scheduled to arrive until Thursday which means the tower will have to wait. If all goes as planned, they could actually set the pin and start stacking steel Thursday afternoon! But don't expect that to happen until Friday morning...maybe.
(Friday : August 1, 2008) The anchor arrived and was installed on Thursday. The first 100+ feet will be stacked with the boom truck, temporary guyed at approximately 70', and at the permanent guy level of 101'. Seacomm Erectors rigged the NEW aluminum gin pole to the tower and stack just under 200' on the first day! Its obvious why they are considered #1 in the industry!
(Saturday : August 2, 2008) Stacking continued through 300'. This was the height of the tower back in March when the backstay failed. Notice the third level of guys are tentioned! It was a great day!
(Monday/Tuesday : August 4/5, 2008) Stacking continued Monday and Tuesday with a height of 575' by the end of the day Tuesday. The tower lights were turned on beginning on Monday and it was nice to see!
(Wed/Thur/Fri : August 6/7/8, 2008) Seacomm topped out on day 5 of stacking at a height of 684' AGL! This included the installation of the torque arms, insulators, and top level of guys at 668'...and this was by lunch! The rest of the day was dedicated to getting the strobes on line with temporary wiring. The next couple days saw the installation of the conduit, wiring, preping the capacity hat assembly, and completing construction of the overhead crane that will be used to install it. The ironworker's traditional tree limb was flown to signify that there were NO INJURIES on the job when they topped out.
(Monday : August 11, 2008) Capacity hat assembly begins.
50' Diameter Capacity Hat...to make up for the 75' shorter tower!
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Ironworkers Local 433 Steward, Tom Norton, on the tag line!
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This temporary overhead crane assembly was engineered to be installed on the top of the tower to support the radial members of the capacity hat. It rotates 360 degrees.
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One of the main radial and brace assemblies.
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Saftey lines were installed to provide fall protection.
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(Wednesday : August 13, 2008) The majority of the work on the capacity hat was completed on August 12th. The order of the day was to remove the temporary crane, the gin pole, and button up the capacity hat. The final strobe was installed and all the lights were brought online and tested. This was the final full day on the site.
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Derek on the hoist!
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Crane base being removed.
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This is one of three leg clamps for the temporary crane support. It clamps around one of the radial legs
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Temporary crane.
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Temporary crane.
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