Street Crane Company plays part in US bridge reconstruction

24 July 2014

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Street Crane Company has supplied electric wire rope hoists for use on a crane playing a key role in the reconstruction of the Longfellow Bridge that runs Charles River at Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The hoists have been installed on a bespoke crane that was built by Street Crane's local partner Capco Crane and Hoist Company.

Capco has built the crane that is helping renovate the 1.5m long bridge, which carries around 90,000 people per day as well as rail and road connections.

Capco Crane built a bespoke 40ft wide double girder gantry crane that features twin Street 7.5 tonne ZX hoists and a cantilever that will accommodate a generator set for power.

According to the company, using two hoists provides greater stability when handling large and "ungainly" loads while, owing to structural limitations on the bridge, the hoists will be limited to six tonne lifts and have a load summation device to prevent the limit being exceeded.

Operations on the bridge are phased to permit continuing traffic flow with work will entailing in-place structural repair to the steel arches on the spans between ten granite piers, as well as the repair or replacement of spandrels, columns, stringers, floor beams and the concrete deck.

Finally, the bridge will be refitted with cast iron fascias and pedestrian railings in the original style and the four characteristic pepper-pot towers, by which the bridge is locally identified, will be re-built.

According to the manufacturer, the success of the gantry crane has prompted the main contractor to order a second crane to speed construction work and "ensure that the bridge can be restored and brought back into full service" again as quickly as possible. This second crane will be delivered in the late summer.