10.02.2012

Launching crane collapses

A 700 tonne bridge launching crane collapsed yesterday near Vancouver, Canada dropping a 90 tonne section into the water below. No one was injured in the incident.
Please register to see all images

The gantry crane was horizontal prior to the accident

The gantry crane was working on the construction of the new Port Mann Bridge and was lifting a 90 tonne section into place when the footings under a set of support legs at one end of the crane gave way. An hour later the leg structure itself crumpled from the stresses, causing it to drop the load into the water below.
Please register to see all images

One end of the launching gantry crane gave way

The waterway below had been closed to traffic in order to due to on-going work above.

Construction on the bridge was suspended while an investigation is conducted by Work Safe BC, and the crane supports are repaired and retested.
Please register to see all images

The collapsed leg structure

The fallen section is part of the 820 metre northern bridge approach on the Coquitlam shore, which with the 350 metre Surrey approach makes up around half of the completed bridge's two kilometre length.