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Vol. XVIIII • No. 13
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ODOT Aims to Reopen Port Clinton Lift Bridge in July The northern half of the Port Clinton Lift Bridge is operational at half power, by design, after crews were able to get it aligned properly last week. This week crews are working on alignment of the southern half of the bridge. After the southern half is properly aligned and tested at half power, each half of the bridge will be bolted into permanent placement with approximately 200 bolts. The bolt holes are reamed to exact measurement of the final bolts—so exact that even a piano string won't fit between the bolt and the hole. This is expected to take about a week. It is ODOT's goal to be able to run testing of full power operations the first week of July. However, there are approximately 2 weeks of final tests that must be conducted to ensure the bridge runs properly at full power, before it is safe to allow drivers on the bridge. In order to expedite comple-
tion and reduce further delays, ODOT has paid to have the designer on site to review and approve allowed tolerances with the alignment. Because the remaining work must be completed in this sequence, ODOT must once again delay the opening date. As is clear from the previous delays, it is hard to set a firm reopening date with a project as complex as this one that includes so many different mechanical and electrical components. ODOT will open the bridge as soon as possible once all the testing is completed. At this time, the best estimate to reopen the bridge is July 20. ODOT will continue to update the public as it learns more information. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime project,” said Patrick McColley, district deputy director of ODOT District 2. "If
we rush to get it open and do not have the bridge aligned precisely, we will likely have to come back in a few years to repair it. If we finish this right, we only have to have this one major project in our lifetime. We estimate this bridge will last another 75 years before needing a second rehabilitation project." According to the ODOT webpage, ODOT shares the frustrations of these delays and will open the bridge as soon as possible. The waterway below is accessible with one span of the bridge to remain operable at all times. Occasionally, both spans may be open. (This story also can be found on Construction Equipment Guide’s website at www.constructionequipmentguide.com.)
Ditch Witch Mid-States Hosts Hospitality House Event
D
itch Witch Mid-States’ Hospitality House event was held on June 1 and coincided with the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Course. The event attracted customers from throughout the dealership’s Ohio, Kentucky, Western New York, Western Pennsylvania and Southern Indiana market area. Ditch Witch Mid-States customers joined the dealership’s employees and Ditch Witch factory representatives to watch the event from the backyard of the Hospitality House, located on the seventh fairway. Guests also were able to head out onto the links for a closer look as their favorite players competed in the Tournament. Attendees were treated to a continental breakfast, buffet lunch, hors d’oeuvres and refreshments served throughout the day. In its 43rd year, the 2018 annual Memorial Tournament is one of the PGA’s largest non-major events and one of a handful of invitational events on the PGA tour. This year Bryson DeChambeau took top honors in an exciting three-man playoff with Kyle Stanley and Ben An. see GOLF page 7
(L-R): RLA Utilities’ Tim Cooper and Scott Moody caught up with Ditch Witch Mid-States’ Sam Swartz and Mike Fish at the Hospitality House event.
(L-R): Mark Speer of Speer Brothers Inc., Ditch Witch Mid-States’ Matt Di lorio, Mike Speer of Speer Brothers and Brian Willis of Ditch Witch Mid-States enjoy the event.
Tiger Woods consults with his caddy as he works his way past the Hospitality House during the tournament.