MANHATTAN ROAD & BRIDGE Manitowoc crawler cranes give U.S. bridge contractor the edge
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anhattan Road & Bridge has boosted its fleet with four MLC100-1 lattice-boom crawler cranes. Recent updates to Manitowoc’s small crawler line have saved the contractor significant setup and maintenance time. Todd Strande, division manager for Manhattan Road & Bridge and self-proclaimed crawler enthusiast, was sold on the Manitowoc MLC100-1 at first sight when he visited the Manitowoc Cranes factory in late 2019. His experience at the facility in Shady Grove, Pa., where he saw firsthand the attention to detail that goes into every crane model, validated Manhattan Road & Bridge’s decision to grow its crawler fleet with four Manitowoc MLC100-1 units. Shortly after the cranes had been delivered, the crawlers were already proving their worth
In July of 2021, Manhattan Road & Bridge used a Manitowoc 14000 in tandem with an MLC100-1 to place the longest pre-cast concrete bridge beam ever fabricated in Oklahoma.
to the company while setting bridge spans at locations across Oklahoma and Arkansas.
The gantry is also utilized to lift the entire upperworks counterweight assembly into place, via remote control.
In July of 2021, one of the company’s MLC100-1 crawlers participated in a two-crane pick that lifted the longest precast concrete bridge beam ever fabricated in Oklahoma. The lift took place during a bridge rehabilitation project on the I-44 Turner Turnpike and was overseen by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. At 148 feet long, 6 feet tall and 148,500 pounds, the Type J pre-cast concrete beam was placed in tandem with another of Manhattan Road & Bridge’s crawler cranes, a Manitowoc 14000.
“We feel that Manitowoc provides the total package in the MLC100-1, with competitive capacities, ease-of-assembly and access for maintenance,” Strande said. “Manitowoc has made a new crane that pairs classic crawler looks with modern service and transport features.”
One key reason for the company’s choice of the MLC100-1 is its efficient setup process. The crawler’s self-assembly hook allows the operator to install the counterweight without an assist crane, turning it into a single-person job. A single segment of hoist line with a button termination is routed through sheaves in the boom butt, eliminating the need to assemble the boom top.
Bridge-building experts Manhattan Road & Bridge is one of the largest family-held construction firms in the United States. It is part of the Manhattan Construction Group that includes commercial, pipeline, heavy civil and specialty construction. True to its name, Manhattan Road & Bridge concentrates on new bridge and bridge rehab projects, and it operates in three states. The bulk of jobs are in Oklahoma and Arkansas, with additional operations in Florida.
Support from KSM Manhattan Road & Bridge’s Manitowoc crane journey began over seven years ago, when the company began expanding its crawler fleet, so it could operate at the highest levels of timeliness and efficiency. All major manufacturers were taken into consideration, but one factor tilted heavily in Manitowoc’s favor — the company already had a long history with dealer Kirby-Smith Machinery Inc. (KSM), who provided uptime support for the company’s other construction equipment. “That relationship was a big factor in our decision,” Strande said. KSM guided Manhattan Road & Bridge through the purchase of its first Manitowoc crawler, a 220-ton Manitowoc 14000. “Based on our positive experience with the 14000, as soon as Manitowoc
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