Courthouse dome installed

SMITH COUNTY — The dome has been installed on top of the new Smith County Courthouse. Overnight, the 56,000-pound lower portion of the dome was installed. Hoar Construction officials monitored wind conditions throughout the weekend and were able to install it during the early morning hours of Monday, March 23. After 8 a.m., they installed the 16,000-pound upper portion.

A 900-ton mobile crane — one of the largest cranes of its kind and reportedly the second largest crane on wheels in the United States — was used, said Fletcher Rives assistant project manager for Hoar Construction.

“This milestone represents a major step forward in the restoration and brings the courthouse closer to completion,” Rives said.

For the last month, construction workers have been building the dome in the old jury parking lot, which has been used as a laydown yard during the courthouse construction project.

The dome structure adds nearly 60 feet of height to the building. The dome consists of several components, including a lower dome, 14-foot columns, an upper dome, and a 9-foot spire.