TUGBOAT ON SCENE AT HOLTON VIADUCT

Special to the Readers of Milwauekeworld.com

By Michael Horne

A tugboat from the Gillen Co. fleet is on the scene of the barge incident at The Edge Condominium project, 1890 N. Commerce St. The doughty craft and its seasoned crew will push the wayward construction barge back into place, according to Antonio Estevez of Gilbane Co., the general contractor. He said the plan is to "reattach the barge and continue with the construction of the dock wall." The barge itself is owned and operated by Edward E. Gillen Co., a firm with over 100 years experience in marine construction.
Roger Tietz, the Marine Construction Superintendent for Gillen says the Edith J., an oil-screw towboat built in Two Rivers, Wisconsin in 1962, will push the barge into place. "Right now, we are waiting for the river to settle down," he tells milwaukeeworld. How long will that take? "It depends on if there is rain, or no rain," he said. If skies remain dry, the river should behave itself in about 48 hours. The power of nature!
Gillen, barge, tugboat and all, is a Gilbane subcontractor on the Edge project. The scope of its work is the construction of the dock wall and deep foundations to accommodate the development of the riverwalk alongside the 133-unit condominium development, where prices start in the $180's. The riverwalk is a required amenity for riparian construction for most of the Milwaukee River.
According to Craig Liberto, bridge planner for the City of Milwaukee, although public funds are used in the development of riverwalks in exchange for a permanent pedestrian easement, the construction is not a city contract.
The Edge is a joint venture of Tandem Developers, LLC. and Brewery Works, Inc. Brewery Works is owned by Gary Grunau, Scott Sampson and Samuel H. Denny, and developed the former Schlitz Brewery just downstream.
Grunau, 69, is also the managing partner of the Milwaukee office of Gilbane, the developer of the Edge.