Seven Stories DowN: Another Loss as CLEANUP Nears End.

[MegalosSkylaki]

GroundZero

Starting with a pile of debris--and need I say victims--that was seven stories high seven months ago, the tight-knit band of Construction Workers and Firefighters may be nearing an end to their work according to this report.

They have removed:
-- 85 % of debris;
--recovered 773 bodies;
--worked 207 days straight;
--5,000 hrs.

They are now seven stories under the ground (in the vast sub-basement system ?) of what was the World Trade Center.

"...there is another sense of loss. The close community...will disband.....These men have skipped holidays and [have] shared meals, they've neglected their families, and bonded in tragedy"

From seven stories up to seven stories down do I understand ?

"Sacred Ground"

MegalosSkylaki

[Richard Cranium]

70 Feet Below
Today, nearly 85 percent of the rubble, 1.4 million tons, is gone, the work now focused 70 feet down below street level.

Of the more than 2,800 victims who died, only 773 have been found and identified. The sad fact is the recovery workers are running out of dirt to sift at this site, running out of places to look for remains.

Pockets of Remains Found

After the cleanup shifted to areas below the fallen twin towers, pockets of victims' remains were found, many in stairwells and other spots that were partially protected as steel beams fell like pickup sticks


The once-daunting job of whittling away at the World Trade Center's ruins was supposed to take a year and run as much as $7 billion, but workers now expect to remove the last of the rubble by summer at a cost estimated to be closer to $1 billion.

The city and work crews say the cleanup has gone faster than expected due to longer shifts and a prevailing attitude that victims' families deserve their relentless labor.

[caddmannq]

These guys are facing more problems as the dig out the sub-levels. This entire complex was built on a 300 year-old landfill, and the only thing that keeps the river from flooding out the site is an underground concrete dike that was built around the site before excavation.

The problem is that the floors that held back the basment walls are gone, and as they dig out the lower levels, the rubble that prevented the walls from collapsing inward must be replaced with temporary shoring to withstand the hydrostatic pressure.

This is a touchy feat of engineering and construction, as the condition of the existing dike and basemant walls has been compromised by the buildings' collapse.

One false move, and this whole excavation could turn into a sea of mud and rubble. In addition, water has already leaked through for months, and into subway tunnels, which had to be plugged with concrete.

The job gets harder from here on out.

Good luck guys.

[Knothead]

I 'd like to think that fortune favors the brave.

And these are brave people. I happen to appreciate you guys bringing this up, for the rest of us to reflect upon.

Our prayers to these HEROES. I am finding much to admire here.

[Richard Cranium]

Here Here

[MegalosSkylaki]

http://www.techimo.com/forum/showthr...threadid=16625

Checkout especially, on Pickel's Post Socalgal's and my remarks.

Actually, checkout out the whole POST !
And thank you , Pickel, again.

MegalosSkylaki