Iron Men

Eleven years after America’s greatest tragedy, the World Trade Center towers are rising. Site Super Eddie Meahan and the ironworkers at Tower 4 have been working for more than a year to build the skyscraper. Today, they will have to fight Lower Manhattan winds in order to raise the building’s protective “cocoon.” Meanwhile, across the East River in Brooklyn, the ironworkers at Brooklyn’s new sports arena are building an exciting cutting-edge entryway. But the project is off to a rough start when the first piece doesn’t fit. Can young Foreman Tommy Cordray right the ship with a new gang?

It’s a hot day in New York City, and the ironworkers at The World Trade Center Tower 4 are struggling to set the scorching steel of this 977 ft. skyscraper. Can the iron men stand the heat or will the high temperatures stop the men at Ground Zero. Up town, on the Alexander Hamilton Bridge, Jimmy Robbins and his crew must set two enormous steel pieces in the next 24 hours. In order to meet their deadline, they will work through the night - and contend with angry New York city drivers.

The men at Tower Four have been working under pressure to finish this 72-story skyscraper on time. Today two alternating raising gangs will be assembling a second heavy lifting hydraulic crane to help speed up the tower’s construction. But with wind and rain in the weather forecast, it will be a battle every step of the way. Meanwhile, at Brooklyn’s only sports arena, spring rains are interfering with the day’s work; the slick, wet steel is dangerous to climb. But with a looming deadline, the men at the Barclay’s Center must brave the elements to stay on schedule.

New York City’s soggy summer has everyone in a bad mood. At the Alexander Hamilton Bridge, the ironworkers must remove a stubborn rusty steel beam, and install a massive, 52-ton steel assembly. Just as they sink their teeth into the work, storm clouds roll in. With the pressure on, tempers flare. Meanwhile at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Connector Mike Borgia works in and out of the rain to build arena’s steel Oculus. When wet, the entryway’s painted steel beams are as slippery as ice - but with a truss to set, and deadlines to meet, Mike braves the dangerous wet steel.

More than 60 stories above lower Manhattan, Four World Trade Center’s ironworkers race to build the skyscraper's next level. On this grey spring day connector Jesse Rice and 3rd Year Apprentice Matt Gelbke have more than 408 tons of steel to set. With a fog rolling in, their visibility is limited. The two work carefully in the murky weather to get the job done. Meanwhile, at the Alexander Hamilton Bridge, the gang is rushing to build their new Gantry Crane. But with heavy New York City traffic all around them, swinging the enormous rig into place alongside 250,000 New York City commuters won't be easy. Later, in Queens, 24-year veteran George Berry initiates a new class of ironworkers. It’s a moving ceremony ”“ with some of our beloved characters front and center.

Over at 4 World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, Mother Nature is throwing the ironworkers for a loop: wind and scorching summer temperatures are making it difficult to set the heavy steel on the tower's last four floors. Meanwhile, across the East River in Brooklyn, the ironworkers at Brooklyn's new Barclays Center are setting the final steel for the arena’s exciting cutting-edge entryway. But when the supporting towers are removed, will the enormous cantilever stand on its own?

The Hanging Gang; they literally hang off the side of the building and set the skyscrapers 13' windows.

Eddie Meahan and his ironworkers are nearing the end of the project of a lifetime; an impressive Window Washing Unit still needs to be built atop the skyscraper.