CRAWLER CRANES Ӏ SECTOR REPORT
21 Manitowoc crawlers help build new three-mile Florida Bridge
The Howard Frankland Bridge carries 132,000 vehicles across Tampa Bay each day and has long been an iconic Florida landmark. However, its infamous traffi c jams have resulted in the bridge becoming a major chokepoint. Now a new, three-mile-long bridge is
being constructed alongside the original span. The bridge’s design and construction are a joint venture between Archer Western Construction LLC, part of The Walsh Group, and Traylor Bros. Inc. Work began in November 2020 on the $865.3 million project and an army of Manitowoc cranes is almost exclusively providing the heavy-duty support. Over 20 Manitowoc crawler cranes are
currently being used to drive sheet and piles and build columns and set beams and decks. The cranes were adapted for use in the marine environment in partnership with the manufacturer and dealers Walter Payton Power Equipment (WPPE) and Ring Power Crane. At just under three miles long, the new, 168 ft-wide design will support more deck area than any other bridge in the state. Over 21 lattice-boom Manitowoc crawlers, including a 4100 ringer, are the workhorse fl eet on the project. Models include 14000, 999s, 2250s, 888s, and MLC300s, with standard maximum capacities between 200 and 330 t. “One of the unique challenges of this job is the sheer number of cranes needed,” said Chris Stearns, senior manager at Walsh. “From a business stance buying all new was not the right option, so we used a mixed strategy. We refurbished many of our existing Manitowoc cranes and supplemented them with four new MLC300 models. We also purchased used Manitowoc crawlers that were refurbished by the Walsh shops in Chicago and Texas and at Manitowoc dealer Ring Power Crane in Florida.” Ring Power Crane refurbished and repaired several 2250s, 888s, 14000s, and one MLC300. The bridge’s construction is linear, starting
at both ends concurrently and progressing to the centre. This required tight coordination for equipment selection, said Pat Delis, Walsh’s account representative at WPPE. “Part of the challenge with driving pile
in Tampa Bay is that the geology of the rock changes rather rapidly across the entire bay, both in depth and hardness,” he said. “Once we’ve selected the correct model for the
capacity and radius, each crane needed to be confi gured specifi c to its application. Strong charts were a major concern since the centre of gravity is always changing on the water, and Manitowoc crawlers have a reputation for their solid barge charts.” As of May 2022, crews have sunk over
1,700 concrete piles, with weights ranging up to around 121,000 lbs (55 t) apiece. In typical pile driving from barges, beams of this size require two crawlers to tip them into position. Seeking a more productive method, Walter Payton collaborated with the Manotowoc Lift Solutions team to design special tilt block adaptors to handle the piles. “Now, you can place the pile with a single
crane because you can hang two blocks from the same point,” said Dustin Soerens, product support specialist with Walter Payton. “The tilt block adaptor pins into the lower boom point and provides sheave-mounted transverse to the boom, allowing the piles to be tilted side-to-side without exceeding the allowable angles of the wire rope reeving.” The crawlers were fortifi ed with a special marine-based zinc undercoating to resist corrosion over the fi ve years the cranes will be on the water. Stearns pointed out: “With all those vibrations, we must pay close attention to the boom tips. We perform monthly inspections, which equates to servicing a crane each working day.” Barge servicing is unconventional but effi cient. Booms range from a minimum of
290 ft in the heavy-lift confi guration on the 999 to 334.6 ft on the MLC300; each boom is too long to be laid tip-down while the crane is on its work platform. Instead, a second barge is positioned in front to accommodate the extended boom, while a maintenance barge moors alongside to begin servicing. Many of the project’s challenges come
from the natural world. “We’ve hired dedicated personnel to look out for manatees and other endangered species in the waters around the bridge,” said Greg Fullington, project executive with The Walsh Group. “Manatees are attracted by areas of seagrasses, which we mark with buoys to ensure our barges don’t impact them. Any time they come close to our equipment, we’re required to shut down until they leave the area.“ For added environmental protection
the crawlers use a special biodegradable- type hydraulic fl uid that was formulated by Manitowoc Lift Solutions to replace standard petroleum-based lubricants. “And at the foundations of our piling operations we're performing underwater acoustic studies with the help of a local university to measure the decibel levels, to ensure that we're below allowable thresholds,” Fullington added. The new bridge will support eight lanes, in addition to a 12ft-wide shared-use path for cyclists and pedestrians. With one section built with heavier loads in mind, the new bridge has also been designed to meet future demand for a light-rail transit system and accommodate self-driving cars.
70 CRANES TODAY
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