Old Roosevelt Island Tram Tower Top Replaced With New - Work To Start On Manhattan Towers - Traffic Advisory For Queensboro Bridge & Surrounding Areas

How is this 2003 Wired New York picture of the Roosevelt Island Tram Tower different

from this picture taken yesterday?
Besides the fact that there are no Riverwalk buildings in the 2003 picture, the one taken yesterday had a topless Tram Tower. The Tram Top was removed by Crane workers the day before.

and the parts placed on the ground

waiting to be disassembled.

Earlier today, the Tram Tower Arms were

were hoisted up by crane to the Tower
waiting for the Tops to join them later this afternoon, weather permitting.

During the June 9 RIOC Operations Committee meeting (audio webcast here) , RIOC President Steve Shane said that the work on the Roosevelt Island Tram Tower requiring the crane should be completed by today, weather permitting, and that the crane will then be barged over to Manhattan to start work on those Tram Towers next week. A barge is being used instead of truck due to the previous reported problems involving the enforcement of weight restrictions on the Roosevelt Island Bridge by the NYC Department of Transportation.

Mr. Shane also reported that he had been told by the Tram Project's vendor, POMA, that their previous estimate of a 4 week delay in the Tram resuming service (now scheduled for October 1 instead of September 1) has been shortened by a couple of days and that they hope to reduce the delay even further in the coming weeks. As Mr. Shane said about the schedule:

We Shall See.

More on earlier work at the Roosevelt Island Tram Tower and the original construction schedule for the Tram Modernization Project including shutting down traffic near the Manhattan Tram Station

Manhattan Tram Station at 2nd Avenue 60th Street

and surrounding areas as well as the Queensboro Bridge Upper Level Roadway.

Image Of Queensboro Bridge Upper Level

Just as I was about to publish this post, received this Traffic Advisory from RIOC:

Please be advised due to work being done on Tower 1 in Manhattan, the Queensboro Bridge upper Roadway will be closed from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday June 12, 2010. In addition, East 60th street will be closed on Saturday from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. between the lower ramp exit and 1st Avenue.

Please review the attached notices for complete detailed information.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

Important Work Notice for June 12th

No Stopping Anytime Notice for June 12th