Ep 6. Crossing the Colorado

Mega Builders is a documentary series that showcases some of the world’s most ambitious engineering projects taking place today. Season 2, Episode 6, titled ‘Crossing the Colorado’ follows a new challenge for one of America’s biggest builders, the Crews of Flatiron, as they embark on a major project to construct a brand new bridge that spans a mighty river.

The bridge is being built over the Colorado River and is designed to carry one of America’s busiest highways, Interstate 91. The high volume of traffic on this route has meant that the existing bridge is no longer fit for purpose, and the Flatiron crews must build a new structure that will be able to carry the load of endless streams of traffic.

The project is highly complex and will require the crews to navigate some incredibly tough terrain, with steep bluffs on either side of the river posing the biggest challenge. The bridge has to be high enough to allow the passage of even the largest ships underneath it, which means towers will have to be built on top of the bluffs to support the weight of the cables that suspend the bridge.

The crews begin work by excavating deep trenches on either side of the river to serve as foundations for the towers. The bluffs are largely made up of unpredictable terrain, which poses some significant challenges for the team. The uneven ground causes frequent rockfalls, which puts the heavy machinery in danger. The crew must erect barriers to contain the rocks and make sure everyone stays safe.

Once the trenches have been dug, the crews begin pouring concrete foundations. At first, the concrete flows effortlessly, but things soon take an unexpected turn when one of the trenches collapses, leading to the crew having to come up with innovative solutions to ensure they can continue with the project. They also face major issues with flooding and the high winds that are common in the area.

Due to the high volume of traffic, time is of the essence, so the team has to work around the clock to ensure the project is completed before the deadline. The construction of the concrete towers is a critical part of the project and requires a combination of precision and brute force. Once the towers have been erected, the crews begin installing the cables that will be used to suspend the bridge.

As the project nears completion, the Flatiron crews come up against a new challenge - the weather. The Colorado River is known for its drastic shifts in weather, and the crew must work quickly to safeguard against potential floods and high winds. This means continuing work throughout the night and having the entire team on standby for any contingencies.

Finally, after months of hard work, the new bridge is completed, and the interstate highway can now safely and efficiently carry the hundreds of thousands of vehicles that cross this section of the Colorado River each day. This episode of Mega Builders showcases the incredible skill, innovation, and dedication of the Flatiron construction crews as they complete one of the most ambitious bridge-building projects in America's history.

In conclusion, the episode ‘Crossing the Colorado’ of Mega Builders showcases the determination and skill of a team of construction workers who undertake the task of building a new bridge that spans one of the largest rivers in America. It is a story of innovation, problem-solving, and a race against the clock. The documentary is not only a fascinating showcase of engineering excellence but also a fantastic display of what people can achieve when they put their minds to it.