Barge-mounted MLC650 replaces transmission towers in Virginia

The two towers stand 425ft tall, rising from the James River. Cianbro decided to  use a barge-mounted because the crane could complete lifts in closer proximity to the transmission towers.

Manitowoc said previous generations of crawler cranes, that would have been used to get the reach and capacity needed for the job, may have been too large for erection on a barge.

“In the past, we would have had to build a trestle, cofferdam or causeway to accommodate a traditional crawler crane with the necessary capacity,” said Mike Berry, lift superintendent for Cianbro. “The MLC650 has the right capacity and a compact footprint that fits securely on a barge, which enables us to lift from an optimal position on the river.”

Cianbro’s MLC650 is erected on a Poseidon P10 portable sectional barge, which measures 132ft by 132ft. Once the crane removes the old transmission towers, it will then set the replacement towers into position on the river. The heaviest components of the new towers are their 100ft by 90ft bases, which weigh 75.5USt and will be lifted to a height of 10ft. The upper halves of each tower weigh 28USt and will be lifted 435ft above the water for installation.

Each tower section will be assembled at Shirley Plantation on the north bank of the James River, nine miles away from the construction site. Once completed, the sections will be moved into position by barge, where the MLC650 will install each one.

The MLC650 isn’t the only Manitowoc crawler on the job. An additional, barge-mounted Manitowoc 4100 Ringer will assist the MLC650 with lifting each tower component. Two Manitowoc 4100Ws and a 4000W are also set up on the river bank to remove old tower components from the river and to deposit them on land for further disassembly.

Cianbro received the MLC650 from Shawmut Equipment, a Manitowoc crane dealer that has served New England and the Atlantic provinces of Canada since 1957.