Three-fifths of the new $790,000-pedestrian bridge across the Yukon River were assembled this morning, and crews were preparing to position the fourth section.

Over the last three days, the curiosity of locals and tourists alike has been piqued by the project, particularly the presence of 165,000-ton crane normally stationed in Ft. St. John, B.C.

The crane is no stranger to work in the oil patch, where things are big by nature.

The $2.5-million machine owned by Sterling Crane can extend its boom 55.2 metres (184 feet). If need be, it can fix another telescoping boom to the end, for a maximum reach of 113 metres (376 feet).

Each of the five steel spans weighs between 23,000 and 24,000 pounds. However, that's a fairly light weight life for a crane of that size, explains crane operator Stefon Wojtala while onsite Thursday afternoon.

He says the crane's capability will be emphasized when it's moved from the Riverdale side of the Yukon River to the Yukon Energy property across the way. There, it will reach out over the river and grab hold of the structure as it's pushed across, inch by inch.

The crane mobilized at a cost of $60,000, on top of the $5,000 a day to run it was fitted with 77,200 pounds of counterweight for its work on the Riverdale side.

The counterweights, which came up north in two separate truck loads, will have to be stripped for the move, to comply with road restrictions.

Once on the Yukon Energy side, the 165-ton LieBhern will be fitted with a 110,000 pounds of counterweight, Wojtala said.

Though a skookum structure manufactured locally by Mobile Maintenance, fitting the pieces together is a delicate deal for Ketza Construction of Whitehorse.

Each section is joined by four high-strength stainless steel pins with a diameter of an artillery shell, and weighing just under 50 pounds each.

But the fit is snug, with just 1-64th of an inch for tolerance on each pin, says engineer Barry Gerbracht, who designed the bridge for his company All-Span Engineering of Vancouver.

Gerbracht says lining up one hole wouldn't be so bad, but lining up all four when there's no more than a 64th of an inch to play with, can be a bit of a challenge.

And at one point Thursday afternoon, one of the holes had to be re-bored on site to remove a smidgen of interference in order to fit the last of the four pins locking sections two and three together.

It was expected that in preparation for installing sections four and five today, and possibly Saturday, the pins would be freeze-dried, in order to gain just that little extra, as metal contracts when it's frozen.

Gerbracht says the structure is built to an earthquake-resistant standard. There is such a thing as an earthquake-proof classification, but it's reserved for nuclear reactors and the like, he says.

'It will be here for a very long time,' he says, adding the bridge could be loaded up with people standing so close together that it would be uncomfortable, and there would be no problem handling the weight.

He says his company also mapped out the installation, as part of its design-build contract with Ketza, which was awarded the contract last September.

As each section is added, the bridge is pushed out that much more over the river, sliding on rollers sitting in steel trenches built specifically for the job.

There were about 15 metres (50 feet) over the water this morning.

But as the fourth section is attached, the crew of some 15 or so at the site will have to place numerous concrete counterweights on the Riverdale end, to provide balance, like levelling off a teeter-totter.

The span, from bridge abutment to bridge abutment, is 75.86 metres (250 feet), with an additional 10 metres on the Riverdale side, for the section that passes over top of the paved Millennium Trail.

It will drop 2.8 metres (nine feet) from the Riverdale side to the Yukon Energy side, and will link the trails that currently run along the shore on both sides of the river.

'This is going to be one of the most popular spots in the city,' predicts Mayor Ernie Bourassa, who was onsite this morning along with senior city administrative staff.

Onlookers have wondered aloud about whether the Rotary Centennial Bridge could serve as an alternate emergency access route.

Rob Fendrick of the City of Whitehorse says that was never the intention, even though it is strong enough.

'It was originally designed, and is still designed, as a pedestrian bridge,' says the city's director of administrative services.

Yukon Energy is contributing a minimum of $53,000 toward construction.

The Rotary Club has sold 360 planks at $125 each, and 40 at $1,000 each, for a total contribution of $90,000 toward the project.

Doug Hnatiuk, president of the Whitehorse Rotary Club, said the pedestrian bridge should be available for public use by the end of the month, and the grand opening is scheduled for the evening of July 7.