01.12.2008

Cranes ditched

Last Tuesday and Thursday saw mobile cranes flip over and end up in a ditch, the first happened early in the morning on Tuesday and was reported as having blocked the A47 at Narborough, near Kings Lynn, Norfolk, blocking the Norwich bound lane all day.

The second occurred on Thursday on the lane to New Hall School, Chelmsford, when the rear wheels of five axle Liebherr All Terrain crane belonging to Chamberlain Crane Hire, sunk into the soft grass on the verge, causing the crane to topple over.
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The crane's rear wheels sunk into the verge

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Hopefully the damage is minimal

We understand that no one was injured in either incident.

Vertikal Comment

On narrow roads it is of course necessary from time to time to squeeze over s far as possible to the right (in the UK) in order to let traffic pass in the other direction. The problem is that this time of year the ground is so saturated it will not only not support the high ground bearing pressure of a crane, but it is also extremely slippery and therefore very easy for a crane to slide into the drainage ditches that typically run alongside such roads.

Hopefully these photos will help remind drivers to be extra diligent.