Impressive as the on the crane barge out on the river toward the Portsmouth side was, this is still not quite the real thing, according to Will Hernandez, chief civil engineer for the state Department of Transportation.
“The only pipes that are being driven at this time are small diameter (24-inch) pipe piles to hold the larger pipe pile driving template in place,” Mr. Hernandez said.
The really big pipe piles, the ones that will actually support the bridge’s mid-sections, are 72 inches in diameter. Once the templates that will guide them are in place, they will be driven starting in , work that will last at least
hydraulic pump six months.
