Method for erecting a transportation structure

A method for erecting a portion of a transportation structure including a first assembly of tube segments. and a second assembly of tube segments both assemblies being capable of being placed under low air pressure so pods may travel substantially free of air friction, the method comprising:

• (a) erecting a substructure including a plurality of piers, a first plurality of girders positioned on at least some of the piers and forming a first transportation pathway running from a first extremity of the substructure to a second extremity, a second plurality of girders positioned on at least some of the piers and forming a second transportation pathway, running from the first extremity of the substructure to the second extremity, alongside the first transportation pathway and a plurality of platforms, either positioned on the piers or connected to the girders of the first or second transportation pathway, and forming a service pathway running from the first extremity of the substructure to the second one, the erecting step including:
• (i) starting from the first extremity, conveying with at least one vehicle an nth girder of the first plurality of girders either along the first transportation pathway formed by the girders of the first plurality of girders previously positioned or along the second transportation pathway formed by the girders of the second plurality of girders previously positioned, positioning the nth girder at a use position and having the at least one vehicle return to the first extremity of the substructure along the service pathway,
• (ii) starting from the first extremity, conveying with the at least one vehicle an nth girder of the second plurality of girders along either the first transportation pathway or the second transportation pathway, positioning the nth girder of the second plurality of girders at a use position and having the art least one vehicle return to the first extremity of the substructure along the service pathway,
• (iii) starting from the first extremity, conveying with the at least one vehicle a yth platform of the plurality of platforms along either the first transportation pathway or the second transportation pathway, positioning the yth platform at a use position and having the at least one vehicle return to the first extremity of the substructure along the service pathway,
• (b) conveying, with the at least one vehicle, tube segments of the first assembly of tube segments along either the first transportation pathway or the second transportation pathway to the use position of each tube segment, positioning each tube segment and having the at least one vehicle return along the service pathway, and
• (c) conveying, with the at least one vehicle, tube segments of the second assembly of tube segments along either the first transportation pathway or the second transportation pathway, from the first extremity of the substructure to the use position of each tube segment, positioning each tube segment and having the at least one vehicle return along the service pathway.