We were approached by one of our existing customers about a complex lift that they wanted our assistance with at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in West London.
An old chiller unit on the roof needed to be replaced, however there were issues to overcome that involved siting the crane, so a meeting was planned involving all parties concerned.
It soon became apparent that Hammersmith council would not consider our preferred method of placing a 200 ton crane in the road with a four lane closure, as they deemed the route too busy at all times to have it affected in this way. We came up with the alternative solution of laying aluminium Trakway on the footpath to the front of the building, and placing a 90 Ton crane there to perform the lifts. This was not as straightforward as it appears, the access was incredibly tight, the footpath had a flagged finish and was therefore vulnerable to damage and also there was an array of street furniture to negotiate. There was a further complication as the crane’s axle weights were in excess of the figure allowed for the Trakway, so this had to be sent out separately from the crane, and installed once the crane was rigged.
There was also a two-lane road closure to allow for site access and a lay-down area for the goods to be lifted. We supplied a modular aluminium UniMat system for the crane’s outriggers, as they were laid on flags, and one outrigger was to be placed underneath a canopy, making the laying of traditional steel mats problematic.
All lifts were carried out successfully and without incident. Edwards Lifting Services arranged and managed all aspects of this lifting operation, with the inclusion of the traffic management, Trakway and the permits required for closing the footpath for the crane to be berthed there, and also for closing the bus lane.
