Link-Belt 175|AT pair tandem-lifts 50-tonne bridge beams in Texas

Sixteen beams at a 45-foot radius

The Texas Department of Transportation scheme covers a four-mile stretch of Farm Road 730 (FM 730) in Boyd, north-west of Fort Worth, where bridges are being replaced and the carriageway resurfaced. For the heaviest picks, Bulldog Crane and Rigging of Rhome, Texas brought in its pair of 175 US ton (150 tonne) Link-Belt 175|AT all terrain cranes, purchased from Link-Belt dealer HOLT Crane & Equipment.

Working in tandem, the two five-axle cranes set sixteen bridge beams weighing 110,000 lb (just under 50 tonnes) apiece, each crane handling its share at a 45 ft (13.7 m) working radius.

“We used the 175|ATs to tandem pick 16 bridge beams at 110,000 pounds each. Working at a 45-foot radius, they managed the weight with ease.”

— Chris Newman, vice president of sales and operator, Bulldog Crane and Rigging

Partial counterweight keeps trucking down

Bulldog deliberately ran the cranes below full counterweight. The reduced configuration still gave enough chart for the beams while cutting the number of support trucks needed to shuttle ballast to site — a saving that fed straight into the programme.

“Keeping that small footprint came in clutch. And less trucks means less time and money spent.”

— Chris Newman, vice president of sales and operator, Bulldog Crane and Rigging

Workhorses beyond bridge duty

Outside bridge work, Bulldog keeps the 175|ATs busy on HVAC lifts and cement batch plant jobs, where the model’s load chart and long main boom pay off. The crane carries a 42.7–197.3 ft (13–60.1 m) pin-and-latch telescopic boom and reaches a maximum tip height of 315.1 ft (96 m), which Newman says makes rooftop picks straightforward.

“Link-Belt offers a nice and modern product that serves a variety of needs,” Newman added. “The 175|AT is no exception.”