SSW engineer Kyle Reed is a SoCal kid, originally from San Diego, who commutes from Los Angeles back to Menifee every day. Fortunately, those drives are a nice way to unwind after a long day at work and, Kyle told us, he doesn't mind uncorking a bottle of Bordeaux when he gets home, either. (He's such a fan of the French wine that he'll be celebrating New Year's Eve with his wife, Rebecca, at the Eiffel Tower!)
Kyle is responsible for all of the edge girder embeds and hanger cables on the Project. As mentioned, SSW is using a customized design to install and monitor the cable strands. Kyle told us that it's very unique to embed cables into concrete arches like this, and also very challenging. The cables have to be installed so that they can be adjusted in anticipation of the structure shifting as the bridge settles into place during construction.
The most rewarding part of the Project for Kyle has been inventing and creating this custom construction process, and now seeing it come to life at the site itself. It took a lot of planning and testing, and there is still plenty of work left to be done, but Kyle told us that he enjoys overcoming engineering challenges and looks forward to the next one.
And maybe a glass of Bordeaux.
