The skeleton of a giant is taking shape along the riverfront. Concrete and steel that is the framework for Great American Ball Park has transformed the site of the Reds' new home from a dirt lot into the outline of a $330 million sports stadium during the past year.

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The Great American Ball Park is rising between Cinergy Field and the Firstar Center. (Glenn Hartong photos) 600 | 800 | 1024

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        Structural steel for the entire second level of the ballpark will be finished in the next few weeks; only steel for the second deck along the right-field line (closest to Cinergy Field) is left to install.

        A second pass to weld the steel for the upper deck will begin in a few weeks.

        Among the recent milestones at the ballpark site:

        • The steel outline for the Reds' administration building is well under way. The Reds move into the building in November.

        • A 76-ton truss bridge, which will connect the ballpark to the Firstar Center, has been assembled. Stretching over Broadway, it is the largest open span in the project.

        • Huge triangular metal pieces that will form the base of the ballpark's light towers have been installed. The light towers will be 280 feet high and will be built like giant steel Legos — one piece on top of another.

        • Concrete that will form the “batter's eye” is being poured. The batter's eye is an area in straightaway center field that is darkened so that batters can better see the ball coming out of the pitcher's hand.

        • Pouring of structural concrete that will support Crosley Terrace, the main entrance to the ballpark, is completed.

        • Pre-cast concrete seating structures are installed along the third base line in the lower seating levels. A concrete floor has also been poured beneath the left field seating area.

        Al “Big Al” Newman, project superintendent for the steel and concrete work, said work is progressing smoothly. One of the biggest factors in keeping the work on schedule, he said, is the warm weather that dominated most of November and December.

        “It's better to have snow than rain,” Mr. Newman said. “We also have to be very careful to make sure we're not lifting things in high winds.

        “But the weather has been great. Otherwise, we would've had to work a lot more overtime.”

        Large white tarps cover large portions of the steel on the second deck. The tarps hold in heat for concrete pours on the metal decks that will make up the ballpark concourses. The metal is heated with large propane heaters.

        Other parts of the stadium don't look like a ballpark at all.

        The field, for example, still is a staging area littered with steel and wood atop mud and rocks. Home plate is a wood post with orange tape on it.

        But project manager Arnie Rosenberg told county commissioners he is very pleased with progress.

        “We're still very much on track for an opening in April 2003,” he said.

        Until then, the Reds will continue to play at Cinergy Field next door to the construction site.

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