Manitowoc MLC300 Accelerates Bridge Replacement

Oct. 7, 2019 - Ceccanti, a Tacoma, Washington-based construction company, needed a crane with maneuverability that could handle heavy loads at great heights to assist with the replacement of an old wooden bridge in Ridgefield, Washington. The contractor found the MLC300 crawler crane had the right features to get the job done in the shortest time possible.

“We chose the MLC300 because of its superior capacity at radius, and its maneuverability when compared to similar cranes in its range and even larger cranes,” said Jake Brockmoller, project manager at Ceccanti. “This crawler crane’s radius allowed service of 75% of the job with help from the derrick barge. We would have certainly lost time and money if we had deployed other equipment.”

The work in Ridgefield started last February. Initially, the contractor had the job scheduled to take 14 months to complete, but now it is going to wrap up approximately five months ahead of schedule in November. By then, the single-lane wooden bridge will be replaced by a two-lane concrete bridge that will pass over railroad tracks on the opposite riverbank.

Brockmoller explained that the MLC300 was positioned on a bulkhead built on the shore of the river. From there, the crane enabled Ceccanti to set shaft cages, position casings, place girders, and all other construction support to take place without moving. The MLC300 lifted girders as heavy as 66.5 U.S. tons to heights of 65’, and rebar cages as heavy as 61 U.S. tons to as high as 125’.

Western Pacific Crane & Equipment (Western Pacific) helped Ceccanti find the right crane to complete the job in Ridgefield. Working from its Arlington, Washington, regional facility, Western Pacific consulted with Ceccanti on the nature of the project and helped them conclude that the MLC300’s strong load chart at long radii would be needed for the lifts from one side of the river. Western Pacific determined that the company could save money by deploying the MLC300 over alternative lifting strategies.

“As a Manitowoc crane distributor, we strive to support our customers with the best consultation and support service possible,” said Randy DeFosse, general manager at Western Pacific. “This project presented a multitude of logical challenges. The versatility and best-in-class capacity of the MLC300 were the perfect solution to our customers’ needs and jobsite requirements. We are pleased to hear that the crane is not only getting the job done, but helping Ceccanti to save time and money in the process.”

The MLC300 features a 386-U.S.-ton capacity and 334.6’ boom, which can also be fitted with a 315’ luffing jib. It comes standard with Manitowoc’s CCS (Crane Control System) that offers a user-friendly interface, two full-graphic displays mounted horizontally for better visibility, a jog dial for easier data input, and ergonomic joysticks.

To learn more about the MLC300, click here.