David Petrin/Little Compton Fire Department
An Aspen A-75 under bridge inspection crane tipped over on Route 24, trapping two employees inside the crane’s bucket and halting traffic.
By Dylan McGuinness Globe Correspondent August 29, 2016
A large truck with a specialized bridge inspection crane tipped over Monday on the Sakonnet River Bridge in Tiverton, R.I., stranding two workers inside the bucket of the crane and stopping traffic in both directions, officials said.
The vehicle, called an under bridge inspection unit, was conducting a routine inspection for the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority at the time of the accident, said spokesman Jim Malachowski.
The equipment was the Aspen A-75 and was leased from Bridgeriggers. The A-75 is the largest of under bridge machines with a 75’ maximum horizontal reach. The A-75 also provides 16′ of vertical reach through the use of its telescopic 4th boom section. This feature enables the crew to do a close-up inspection in between the deepest bridge girders and beams under the bridge deck.
Like all Aspen Aerials articulated equipment, the vendors claims that the Aspen A-75 readily surpasses all stability requirements without requiring outrigger type stabilizers. Utilizing special hydraulically operated suspension lockouts and an innovative dual counterweight system, excessive point loading is essentially eliminated. Obviously in this case some of these lockouts and counterweight systems did not operate properly.
The accident on Route 24 was reported just after 2 p.m.
The truck has a long, jointed arm that extends out from the bridge and hooks underneath it so workers can inspect the sides and bottoms of bridges, Malachowski said.
Two contractors from a private company were in the crane bucket when the truck tipped. A second vehicle, almost identical to the first one, was called to the scene to rescue the workers, Malachowski said. They were transferred from one bucket to the other and returned to the bridge.
“They’re safe,” Malachowski said. The workers are being taken to a local hospital to be evaluated.
The workers followed safety protocols before deploying the arm, Malachowski said.
“There will be a full inspection into why this vehicle tipped when all the protocols and safety procedures were followed,” Malachowski said. “Anything they may learn from this will be incorporated into future safety procedures.”
RITBA, the contractor, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will conduct investigations, Malachowski said.
“These are very common vehicles and they’re very useful,” he said. “They’re not supposed to tip over.”
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Bridgeriggers
N.E. Bridge Contractors, Inc.
Specialized Equipment Rentals for Bridge Inspections,
Repairs, and All Under Bridge Accessing.
N.E. Bridge Contractors specializes in road and railroad bridge accessing equipment including: under bridge inspection snoopers, sectional barges, man lifts, and bridge rigging. We also provide marine construction and marine repair services including: commercial diving, underwater welding, scour and fender repairs, and sub-cable replacement.
Our equipment can help you safely inspect, repair, and access every part of any bridge. We provide Hi-Rail under bridge trucks, Hi-Rail Man Lifts, and Hi-Rail bucket trucks for use on Class I railroads and Shortline Railroads.
Underbridge Inspection Units are designed for
completing all types of bridge inspection and maintenance work. You can
easily access both roadway and railroad bridges with the large
two-person basket. Whether you need to work above, below, or alongside
the bridge, our under bridge machines safely maneuver you closer to the
bridge structure and allow you to work hands on, getting work done more
efficiently and more effectively.
We offer daily, weekly, and monthly rates which
include a driver, fuel, and all machine maintenance. Our fleet consists
of well maintained, late model units, with experienced drivers who have
all been trained and certified by Aspen Aerials as professionally
licensed operators. Our drivers will bring the equipment right to your
jobsite on time. We have one of the largest fleets of under bridge
units in the country and we can accommodate your short term or long term
job. N.E. Bridge can provide rental equipment to all 50 states as well
as to Canada.
If you don’t know what type of machine is right for your job, take a look at our Equipment Selection Guide, or give us a call at 1-800-548-3408.
Our under bridge trucks can be used for many different jobs including:
- Bridge Washing
- Bridge Deck Repairs
- Utilities
- Fiber Optics
- Bridge Painting
- Signage
- Conduit Line Inspection and Repair
- Structural Testing
- Bridge Inspections
- Railroad Bridge Repairs
- Railroad Bridge Inspections
- Bridge Movement Monitoring
- Structural Coring
At N.E. Bridge Contractors, we work with
many different types of industries including:
many different types of industries including:
- Government Agencies
- State Departments
- Transportation Authorities
- Bridge Design Engineers
- Bridge Inspection Engineers
- Utility Companies
- Fiber Optic Cable Companies
- Electrical Contractors
- Construction Contractors
- Class 1 Railroads
- Shortline Railroads
- Bridge Maintenance Contractors (painting and washing)
A-75 UBIU
Our A-75 is the largest of under bridge
machines with a 75’ maximum horizontal reach. The A-75 also provides 16′
of vertical reach through the use of its telescopic 4th boom section.
This feature enables you to do a close-up inspection in between your
deepest girders and beams under the bridge deck. Whether you need to
work above, below, or alongside the bridge, the A-75 will safely
maneuver you closer to the bridge structure and allow you to work hands
on, getting work done more efficiently and more effectively.
To see a detailed flight path of the A-75, please click here.
Specifications:
- Horizontal Under Bridge Reach: 75’
- Vertical Reach Down:72’
- 4thTelescoping boom: 16’
- Overhead Vertical Reach Up: 53’
- Fence Clearance: 10’
- Sidewalk Clearance:12’6”
- Rotation Range of Turret 1: 270 degrees
- Rotation Range of Turret 2: 180 degrees
- Deploys on Both Sides
- Registered Weight: 79,000 lbs (39.5 Tons)
- Front axle to Rear axle spacing: 35’7”
- Total Length: 43’
- Total Height: 13’
Features:
- 600 lbs Bucket Capacity
- Heated Bucket Platform
- Inspection Lights
- Axle Locks
- No Outriggers or External Stabilizers
- Basket Size (Two Person Basket): 40” x 60” x 42”
- Three sets of controls: one set in the platform, one remote set, one set at the pedestal.
- Sloped indicator alarm