20.07.2006

Boom Lift brings down Footbridge and causes chaos

A JLG boom lift being transported on an A-Plant low loader caused rush-hour devastation yesterday in Plymouth when its lower boom hit a footbridge and tore it in two.

Drivers and pedestrians watched as a 20 metre/60 ft section of the bridge in Saltash Road, Plymouth was torn down and dragged more than 50 metres blocking all four lanes of the road.
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The boom JLG boom lift looks as though it was not properly stowed.

There was gridlock across the city centre for hours, with major traffic tailbacks reported across the city. Saltash Road was closed for nine hours between the North Cross and Pennycomequick roundabouts while engineers tried to clear the scene.

As the boom hit the footbridge, the bridge was torn off its mountings and the concrete foundations ripped up by the collision.
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The footbridge is a write-off

An 18-year-old woman suffered minor cuts and grazes as the bridge fell, but was the only person injured in the incident. Police said it was incredible no one was seriously injured.

Plymouth City Council has said the remains of the bridge will be pulled down.

A spokesperson for A-Plant said today that "the company is cooperating fully with all the relevant authorities."

Vertikal Comment

The pictures of the incident appear to suggest that the articulated boom's riser, or lower boom, was not fully stowed and thus caused the load to be higher than it would otherwise have been.

Alternatively the impact with the bridge may be have caused the boom to be raised from its stowed position.