Relocation
on 'Fast Track'
UPDATE
June 23, 1999
Cheryl Roberts

Movers have put the relocation on the "fast track" in order to move the lighthouse out of harm's way. Engineers agree that the lighthouse needs to be moved 850 feet away from the ocean's edge, the critical distance affording the National Historic Landmark a buffer from strong storm winds. To date, the lighthouse has moved a total 317 feet, and by the end of today, Wednesday, another 150 feet will have been gained.

Joe Jakubik, Project Manager with International Chimney Corporation (ICC) in Buffalo, NY, says the greatest time-saving devices for the movers are the hydraulic clamps for the push jacks. Instead of the time-consuming task of unbolting and rebolting the push jacks onto the roll beams after each five-foot push, the hydraulic clamps lock and unlock almost instantaneously.

Major players in the move, Expert House Movers, are working tirelessly to keep the steel mat leapfrogged in front of the moving lighthouse so the roll beams can then be moved from back to front, and the move kept as continuous as possible.

Photos courtesy Bruce Roberts

In the aerial view "Ocean's Edge" [Large Image] by Bruce Roberts, you can see how close the ocean is to the original foundation site. Note the half circle just inside the excavation...this is the original site, partially covered by the steel beam mat. An earthmover is pulling one of the steel beams in front of the lighthouse along the move corridor, recharging (leapfrogging) the move system.

Photos courtesy Bruce Roberts

Another look at the move in progress is in Bruce Robert's "Move System." [Large Image] The seven roll beams are evident. The seven main beams and built-in hydraulic jacks ride atop the roll beams on encased rollers, moved along by push jacks. The lighthouse moves silently one-to two inches per minute.

Thousands of visitors have gathered everyday to watch the momentous event. To be in the crowd and feel the excitement is a unique experience.

Move contractor, ICC, has emergency plans for dune repair should a sudden storm develop and damage the protective dune line.

Vertical Lift Completed
June 11, 1999
Cheryl Roberts
UPDATE
HATTERAS ISLAND, NC

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse will complete its vertical lift today, raising it approximately six feet.

In the image below, courtesy the National Park Service, you can see work ongoing just prior to the lift (this is an earlier picture). Still at ground level are the main beams, which are the big beams extending below the plywood on which the movers are standing. Jacks with their heads pointed downward are built-in, between the two flanges of the duplex main beams. Pressurized jacks lifted the lighthouse in approximately one-foot increments.

Photos courtesy National Park Service

The blue box is the pump for the oil to feed the hydraulic jacks. Situated on the "back" of the lighthouse, this machine is "like the motor in a car just before the transmission," President Rick Lohr of International Chimney Corporation, move contractor, states in a phone conversation Wednesday. The oil is pumped to the hydraulic jacks including the push "rams" or push jacks that will be bolted to the roll beams and push the main beams on their sets of rollers. Hoses running from the individual jacks are attached to the red unified jack system control/monitor panel to the right.

The red "box" under a rain shield is the control panel for the one hundred jacks in the unified jack system. This control panel monitors and controls the pressure of each jack. The jacks do the lifting, lowering, and along with the steel support system, support the lighthouse during the relocation process.

Roll beams are now being installed.

The steel beam mat is being laid in front of the lighthouse along the move corridor to insure a smooth glide with the load of the tower spread evenly. A 70' x 70' steel mat remains under the lighthouse with about 40' of steel mat extending in front of it that is leapfrogged as the move progresses.

The lateral movement of the lighthouse is predicted to begin sometime next week. Stay tuned!

New plans for the completion of the relocation site foundation call for brick (instead of concrete infill) to dovetail the concrete pad at the new site with the base of the tower, making it a continuous entity for great strength. Every brick will be hand-laid.

Next Thursday, we will have another update and image(s). You will get to see the tower lifted and roll beams in place under the mains. Push jacks will be positioned under the mains, clamped to the roll beams. And she'll be ready to begin a landmark move!

Move is On!
June 17, 1999
Cheryl Roberts
UPDATE
HATTERAS ISLAND, NC

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse began its journey to the relocation site today, June 17th, at 3:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time. The first push was five (5) inches with a subsequent ten feet having been gained as of 6:15 pm.

Photos courtesy Bruce Roberts

In this image, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the awaiting passenger sitting solidly on the transport system of steel.

Shoring towers have been removed, oak cribbing has been placed as support, and the roll beams with rollers have been put into position under the jacks within the main beams. All systems are go, and movers prepared last details before the push jacks were activated.

In four-to-six weeks' time, the lighthouse will inch its way to the relocation site. If a storm should threaten, the tower will be lowered on the jacks and clamped down for safety.

Record numbers of visitors are at the light station to witness the historic moment. Scores of local and national media, including all major networks, are on hand for the first push.

Updated Schedule of Events
UPDATE
May 4, 1999
Cheryl Roberts

The new lighthouse site is an area of 3.1 acres surrounded by natural growth. The light of the lighthouse will gain an advantage at a new height to put the beacon out across Diamond Shoals. A Notice to Mariners for light-out was issued for March 1st.

May until early June: installation of the main beams with hydraulic jacks that will lift the tower. The next step will be to install the roll beams upon which the tower will move.

Around mid-June (could be a lttle earlier or a little later) the slide should begin. It can take up to six weeks, moving about 50 feet per day. This is now predicted to last until mid-August.

August until mid-September the tower will arrive at the new foundation, be lowered onto the concrete pad, all steel removed, and concrete infill to complete its new foundation will be done.

Phase 2 will begin and work on details including parking, utilities and such begins.

Memorial Day 2000 reopening is planned. Nothing specific has been announced, but a ceremony will likely be in order.

Sign Up for Lighthouse Society Announcements
Feb 1, 1999
Staff Report

The Outer Banks Lighthouse Society will update the progress of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse move throughout the Spring ... sign up to receive e-mail updates.