The Port Mann Bridge is one of the largest cable stay suspension bridges in the world. To keep traffic flowing during winter storms, teams of Rope Access Technicians hang high over traffic to operate the bridge’s snow removal system.
Chain collars are fixed around all of the bridge’s 288 cables. The collars are attached to remotely operated hangers at the top of the bridge towers. When snow or ice builds up on the bridge cables, Snow and Ice Technicians drop collars to keep the cables clear.
Rope Access Technicians reload the collars at the end of each winter storm. Up to 30 collars are loaded on each cable.
These technicians with British Columbia’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure work through cold, wet conditions high above the bridge deck to ensure the Port Mann Bridge stays open and safe to traffic.
From TReOPortMann: Clearing snow from the cables on the Port Mann Bridge, British Columbia.
Watch more feats of engineering: Dismantling the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge and a monster-sized bridge building machine in action.
Bonus: Changing a light bulb at the top of a 1500 foot TV tower.
via The Awesomer.
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