UK Built Street Hoists Play Pivotal Role in Bridge Reconstruction in Massachusetts

Hoists from Street Crane Company are frequently used in construction projects in the UK and are now playing a major role in the reconstruction of the Longfellow Bridge in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The hoists are installed on a bespoke crane built by Street’s local distributor Capco Crane and Hoist Company. The crane will be used in the renovation of the 107 year old bridge that spans 1.5 miles over the Charles River and carries around 90,000 people per day.

At 105 foot wide, the bridge, known local y as the Pepper Pot bridge because of it’s the shape of its towers, carries both rail and road connections. For the reconstruction, Capco Crane has built a 40ft wide double girder gantry crane. This features two Street 7.5 tonne ZX hoists to provide greater stability when handling large and ungainly structural elements. In addition, an integral generator installed on a cantilever to the crane provides independent power and eliminates the need for a convention power supply. Due to structural limitations and to ensure safety, the hoists, whether used independently or in tandem, will be limited to six tonne lifts with a load summation device preventing excess load.

The scheme was originally planned to last three and a half years with operations phased to permit continuing traffic flow. Work entails structural repair in position to the large steel arches on the eleven spans between granite piers and bridge abutments, as well as the repair or replacement of spandrels, columns, stringers, floor beams and the concrete deck. Finally, the bridge will be refitted with original design cast iron pedestrian railings and fascias and the four characteristic pepper-pot towers, by which the bridge is locally identified, will be re-built.

To ensure that the bridge can be restored and brought into full service again as quickly as possible, the main contractor has ordered a second crane for urgent delivery in the late summer to speed construction. To meet the contractor’s delivery needs the, outdoor specification, hoist units were manufactured by Street Crane in under two weeks.

In the UK Street Crane is best known as a supplier of whole cranes to manufacturers and the construction industry. Ten Street cranes were used in Crossrail projects including the Oxford Road crane used for deep excavation and construction. Internationally the company’s hoists are available via partnerships with over 60 distributors, often crane builders such as Capco Crane and Hoist, serving a local market. Over 70 percent of Street’s turnover comes from such exports and the company is currently building a new hoist factory to support further export growth.

More information
Images are on the web at http://www.ainsmag.co.uk/st165/5277st1a-capco-crane-and-hoist.htm

Street Crane Company is the UK's largest manufacturer of electric overhead travelling cranes (EOTCs) and a major exporter of hoists, components and controls to crane makers in overseas markets. Cranes and hoists are available up to 200 tonnes safe working load. Single and double girder gantry, semi Goliath and Goliath cranes are produced. Special cranes and automated crane controls can be engineered to cope with unusual site conditions or load handling and lifting requirements.

Chris Lindley-Smith

Tel. +44 (0)1298 812456 Fax. +44 (0)1298 814 945
E-mail: admin@streetcrane.co.uk Web: http://www.streetcrane.co.uk

Street Crane Company, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak, SK23 0PH, UK

This release was published on openPR.