Bricks, Cranes and Rebar

There was so much going on at the site this morning that I almost don't know where to start.

Are you as interested in the brickwork as I am?  The mortar has been removed from between the bricks on the north side, but the new and improved mortar hasn't been filled in yet.  The plastic cover is for warmth when the workmen start repointing.

With the scaffolding open on the east side, my camera and I could watch the brick restoration.

Part of this process puts dust in the air, so keeping the scaffolding open is best while that work goes on.

Each stone is being examined and all are numbered.  Some have been removed for further work.

You can see that the bricks are not identical in color.  When it is necessary to replace a brick, the men choose a brick of the same color.  This way the finished appearance will look like the original tabernacle.

This unrestored brick is on the south side.  Notice the variations in color.

I'm trying to decide what to show you next.

Scaffolding is being constructed around the base of the steeple.

This will not only enable the base to be finished, but it will provide workmen access to the steeple.

The next milestone for the temple will be the placing of Moroni on the steeple.

Mr. Crane is essential to lifting up Moroni, but I have learned that his days at the site are numbered.

In the meantime, he's staying very busy.

The pigeons are considering a Save The Crane campaign.

Once Mr. Crane leaves, the south entrance will be used to bring in construction materials.  Framing has begun on the two lowest levels of the temple, only one of which is visible in this photo, and is progressing up.

The workmen are working hard to prepare this rebar for a concrete pour.  The forms on each side of the entrance are for stairwells to the surface.

We are all atwitter about that.

Concrete has been poured along the east side of the south lot.  A drainage sump is in the lower portion of this photo.  The black crane is too heavy to move on top of the concrete, so pours on the on the west half of the south side have to happen north of him.  Eventually he'll work himself out of a job, too.

The south lift station lies quietly next to the south entrance.  The concrete is moving west and will fill in around it.  When the drainage system is complete, water from the site will exit via the three lift stations and move into the city's storm system.

Let's move to the west lot.

Half of the roof for the underground parking garage was poured two weeks ago.

The workmen are preparing the rest of the lot with rebar and cables for another pour.

The emergency stairwell from the garage is on the left.

The entire length of the south side of this lot has a concrete wall which will be part of the support system for the garage roof.  A similar wall will continue around the corner and down the length of the west side of the south lot and will support the roof of the south garage.

Within a few weeks, three sides of the temple will be at ground level.  Then, scaffolding for the brickwork can go up on the west side.

I'm ok with the scaffolding blocking our view of the temple, as long as it doesn't block our view of the mountains!