CALIFORNIA STATE EDITION
A Supplement to:
April 12 2020 Vol. I • No. 8
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.” Your California Connection – Debbie Hansen – 1-702-239-0348 – dhansen@cegltd.com
Cranes Key to Giving Ventura Freeway Its New Look By Irwin Rapoport CEG CORRESPONDENT
The California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) $55 million Interstate 5 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV, or carpool) lane project between State Route 134 (the Ventura Freeway) and Magnolia Boulevard is expected to be substantially completed this Spring. “This is one of several projects that make up Caltrans’ ongoing $1.3 billion I-5 North improvements on I-5 (the Golden State Freeway) between SR-134 and State Route 118,” said Michael Comeaux, public information officer, Caltrans — District 7. “This project is widening I-5 to add 2.7 miles of HOV lanes in each direction in Glendale and Burbank, where I-5 had four lanes in each direction at the outset of the project. Upon completion, I-5 will have one HOV lane plus four regular freeway lanes in each direction.” The design phase of the project was completed in March 2009, and the contract was awarded to Security Paving in December 2010, with construction starting in February 2011. A key subcontractor on the project was Mr. Crane, a firm that
Here, a beam is about to be placed on a new bridge. Night work was essential on the busy freeway.
provides operated crane and rigging services, which lifted and erected 32 steel girders (between 94 and 104 ft. long) for eight spans that weighed between 30,000 and 58,000 lbs. for the Providencia Avenue bridge. The crews, up to 10 people, were on-
site for nine evenings in August 2016. “We had the freeway and street closures that were required,” said Erin Parker, Mr. Crane’s Bridge Girder Project Manager. “Our crews would show up at 10 p.m. and plan to make sure that every-
body was on the same page — we went over the bracing procedures with Security Paving and worked hand-in-hand with them to get the girders in place. After the girders were placed, they would brace them in their final position.” The lane closures began at 11
p.m. and they had to be re-opened at 4 a.m. precisely. “Our window was pretty finite,” said Parker. “Our Grove GMK 6350 all-terrain hydraulic truck crane was stored in offhours in a dirt lot close to the site and we were able to put it in place rapidly. During the course of work Mr. Crane and Security Paving crews developed a rhythm, but you have to avoid complacency, as it is one of the biggest causes of injuries. Communication with Security Paving was really critical and we remind our crews ‘that even though we all think we know what the next step is, let’s make sure no one gets caught off guard — that’s when bad things happen.’” Caltrans financial penalties for late lane re-openings were substantial — in the thousands of dollars, on a per-lane per-minute basis. To avoid these penalties, time was measured to the second. “With the potential financial impact of opening a freeway or road late, we timed each interval and if it took 37 minutes and we had 45 minutes left until the closure ended, that would be the last girder for the night – the fine were prohibitive and it didn’t make see CRANE page 10
SACRAMENTO ONLINE EQUIPMENT AUCTION
PORTLAND ONLINE EQUIPMENT AUCTION
Saturday, May 9th, 2020 @ 8:30am 4751 Power Inn Rd., Sacramento, CA 95826
Friday, May 29th, 2020 @ 8:30am 1501 N. Schmeer Rd., Portland, OR 97217
www.barnoneauction.com | (866) www.BARNONEAUCTION.com 866 372 - 372- -1700 1700