SSW Structure Superintendents (left to right): Sal Zuniga, Rolando Barraza, Saul Macias, and Ralph Howard
Joshua Greer
We recently caught up with five SSW Structure Superintendents on the Project. (Superintendents oversee the overall construction process and are responsible for managing a project's various building activities.) Here's what we learned about them:
Sal "Salby" Zuniga brings 29 years of experience as a Bridge Builder to the Project, where he manages material for crews and set up the ways and means of building the bridge. His primary focus is on the arches, stairs, decks and superstructure. Sal has been happily married for 39 years and is proud to have raised two sons together, both of whom have followed their father into the industry. He enjoys water activities and golf, but most importantly traveling with his wife to Mexico and throughout the United States.
Rolando "Cheese" Barraza has over two decades of experience as a Bridge Carpenter and his main focus on the Project has been falsework. He previously worked on another freeway-spanning bridge: the Gilman Bridge near the University of California, San Diego, which crosses over the I-5. Like the Sixth Street Viaduct, that bridge features colorful built-in lights.
Saul Macias also brings experience as a Bridge Carpenter (27 years) and has been in charge of managing construction of the knuckles and arch rib floor beams, as well as the purchasing of materials. One of his proudest accomplishments is seeing the Project through from the beginning to its end. But his true pride and joy has been raising his children. Saul also loves hiking, gardening and coin collecting. He enjoys traveling and told us that he is already well on his way to visiting all 50 states!
Ralph Howard oversees the removal of falsework and has 22 years experience as a Pile Driver. He likes the outdoors and when he's not on the job, Ralph is probably enjoying some kind of activity out in the desert or on a river.
Joshua Greer has 25 years of experience in the industry and oversees the arch cables and helical ramp. As the Project nears completion, Joshua told us that he's "looking forward to building my retirement home." Seems like construction is always on his mind!
