The I Lift NY supercrane had its first workout in the region Friday, when it hoisted a 600-ton piece of foundation into place at the new Tappan Zee Bridge construction site on the Hudson River.
- I Lift NY goes to work on the New NY Bridge project in April. Photo courtesy New York State Thruway Authority
The three-and-a-half hour job was the first the crane, which is owned by bridge contractor Tappan Zee Constructors LLC, has completed since making a 6,000-mile journey on a barge from California in October.
I Lift NY has the ability to lift about 1,900 tons, and now that the ice has cleared and the crane has undergone extensive modifications and testing over the last several months, it will begin putting into place more pile caps and heavier structural steel beams that are made off-site.
The crane is operated by engineers who have spent months training specially for the machine, according to a statement from the New NY Bridge project group.
The supercrane is expected to save billions of dollars on the overall cost of the project by reducing dredging and construction time.
