TZC Manitowocs on NY Bridge project

A joint venture of four construction companies called Tappan Zee Constructors (TZC) has begun work on the construction of the US$3.9 billion New York Bridge in New York, USA.

The new three-mile twin NY Bridge will be built across the Hudson River and will replace the 60-year-old Tappan Zee Bridge. The new bridge is being built next to the existing bridge. After the new bridge is completed, the cranes will stay on site to help demolish the old structure.

The job is one of the largest infrastructure projects in North America and has up to 500 workers on the site at any one time, a spokesperson said. Approximately 30 cranes are on site, 14 of which are Manitowocs.

Bob Hammond, equipment manager from California-based Granite Construction, one of the four companies that make up TZC, said, “Many of our partners in the consortium brought Manitowoc cranes to the project. Among them are a Manitowoc 11000-1 crawler crane loading and unloading supplies from barges; two Manitowoc 4600 ringer cranes that are doing pile driving work, driving sheets, setting concrete and casting forms, and performing form work; a Manitowoc 14000 cleaning piles and handling dig out chores; and a Manitowoc 999 using a clam bucket to handle clean out work for piles.”

An MLC165, a 3900 and a 4000W were also on site. The 182 US ton (163 tonne) capacity MLC165 was set up on a barge with 53 metres of main boom. It is making lifts up to 20 tons (18 tonnes) at heights reaching approximately 27 m. The 11000-1 has been erected on a trestle, which has a steel platform with wood on top to support the crane. It is mainly being used to load and unload barges working along the waterway.

“We’re using the Manitowoc 11000-1 to convey delivery from water to land and back,” Hammond said. “Everyday something different comes in, from lumber to I-beams. Right now we have 45 m of boom on the crane and we’re using it eight hours a day, shipping materials on and off the job site. Most of the loads run from 20 to 50 ton [18 to 45 tonnes]. The other day we were loading out boom sections at 13 to 15 m for a Manitowoc 4600, and the loads were 6 ton [5.4 tonnes].”

The MLC165 and the 11000-1 were purchased from Manitowoc dealer Hoffman Equipment. Hammond said, “Hoffman’s been a key element for us to help with assembly of the majority of the cranes we brought to the project. Hoffman has also been very instrumental in helping us maintain our fleet and getting machines up and running.”

The bridge sections are being constructed 130 miles (211 km) away from site and are due to be floated down the Hudson River for assembly. The project is scheduled for completion in 2018.