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As I came in to work the morning of November 3, I was notified of the day’s event – the first steel installation. Around 11 a.m. I got in the car, drove to the West Bank and stood on the levee to grab a front row seat for the spectacle. The significance of the event did not escape me. As I was standing there watching I thought “this is a historic event and I am here to watch it happen”.
The upstream of the West Bank Anchor Span was the first of the four spans on the Huey P. Long Bridge to receive the new truss additions. Steel is being installed using the stick-built method, meaning each member will be placed individually on the span. A preassembled section made out of two bottom chord members and some temporary members used for bracing, were the first scheduled for installation. Placed on a barge strategically located on the upstream side of the West Bank Anchor Span, the members awaited the significant first lift. The two bottom chord members measured approximately 158 feet long.
Barge carrying bottom chord members and bracing support waiting for the lift. 
Steel section being lifted from barge.
Once the steel was prepared for lifting it was gradually hoisted. A crane was used for the lifting and crew members located on the barge, the pier and the falsework helped maneuver the steel into place. The process seemed effortless. After the steel was placed in its final position, an 18-inch pin was used to secure the knuckle.
Crew members maneuvering bottom chord into the knuckle.
Crew member placing the 18-inch pin to secure bottom chord member.
As of November 30, more than 20 members on the West Bank Anchor Span have been installed. Installation on the downstream side of this span will begin soon. The ongoing progression can be monitored in two ways:
Steel Installation Photo Diary: A photo diary was created and can be viewed online depicting the visual documentation of the bridge transformation.
HPL Construction Web Camera: The HPL West Bank web camera, one of six cameras accessible from the project website, provides a great view of the upstream side of West Bank Anchor Span. It provides the most up-to-date view of the installation work on the West Bank side of the bridge.
The installation of the West Bank Anchor Span is estimated to be completed in May 2010. The remaining three spans will be done using the span-by-span method.