Get FinancingLink-Belt Sells An HSL Lattice Crawler Crane For Connecticut Interstate Bridge Work
Link-Belt has sold a Massachusetts contractor a 150-ton (136-metric-ton) 238HSL lattice boom crawler crane, and it’s already doing bridge work. Middlesex Corporation of Littleton, Massachusetts, bought the crane from Wood’s CRW Corporation and has put it to work on Interstate 95 near New Haven, Connecticut.
“The 238HSL is working out very well for us,” says Middlesex Corporation Marine Superintendent Rick Ronan.
The Project
The bridge job is part of an ongoing 2.5-year project to widen Interstate 95 over the West River, which is intended to alleviate traffic concerns between New York and Boston. Middlesex is using its new 238HSL along with its existing 238H-5 lattice crawler to create work platforms in the river so that the cranes can get close enough to demolish an old elevated cloverleaf ramp.
To build the work platforms, the machines are driving piling over tidal wetlands using an ICE 44B vibratory pile driver and an ICE 60S diesel hammer. The piles are up to 110 feet (33.5 meters) long, 24 inches (61 centimeters) in diameter, and have 1/2-inch-thick walls.
Not only must the temporary trestle of the work platforms support the cranes’ weight—the 238HSL by itself weighs 263,000 pounds (119.3 metric tons) during operation—they must be able to handle the additional load of the pieces the cranes are removing from the elevated ramp. The girder sections can weigh up to 34,000 pounds (15,400 kilograms), according to Link-Belt.
Meanwhile, the concrete pier caps weigh up to 53,000 pounds (24,000 kilograms) each. The cranes are removing them at a 75-foot (23-meter) radius, then swinging them nearly 180 degrees to load them onto trailers to be recycled locally.
“This two-and-a-half-year West River Bridge project has had up to five Link-Belt crawler cranes working here,” says Ronan. “There were additional needs here where our 300-ton (272-metric ton) 348H-5, several 250-ton (227-metric ton) 298 rigs, and a (110-ton (99.8-metric ton)) 218 (HSL) Link-Belt crawler crane were being used.”
Reduced Lubrication Requirements
Because of the brackish or salt water around their typical work sites, the Middlesex crew has to service its cranes’ pins and grease fittings regularly.
“Every machine needs continual maintenance, particularly in this environment,” says Middlesex Corporation Equipment Asset Manager Mike Shea. “We’re a little bit rougher on our machines than normal because of our work around saltwater, doing pile driving, and coffer dam work.
“Newer cranes have addressed some of these issues with fewer and fewer grease fittings,” Shea continues. “Link-Belt is using more and more sealed bearings and other methods to lubricate for certain locations or do away with altogether.
“The Link-Belt cranes have been dependable for us.”
238HSL Crane Specs
The Link-Belt 238HSL lattice crawler crane has a four-section box boom that can extend from 50 to 260 feet (15.2 to 79.3 meters). Its jib can be 30 to 80 feet (9.1 to 24.4 meters) long, with a 5-, 15-, or 25-degree offset. Maximum tip height for the 238HSL with a fixed jib is 308 feet (93.9 meters).
Link-Belt gives the crane a 270-horsepower (201-kilowatt) Cummins QSB 6.7 drive motor and a 215-horsepower (160-kilowatt) Cummins QSB 6.7L engine for the superstructure.
Swing by CraneTrader.com to find quality new and used Link-Belt cranes for sale, including lattice boom crawler cranes such as the 238HSL.
Source: Link-Belt