Bigge Assists in Expansion of Los Angeles Metro Rail System
In May of 2017, Bigge was hired to execute the lift and haul of components used in the completion of a new rail extension, part of an overall expansion of the Los Angeles County Metro System (LA Metro). A Tunnel Boring Machine, consisting of a cutterhead and heavy shield sections, is a specialized tunneling tool used in the construction of light rail infrastructure under roadways and buildings within busy urban settings. When complete, the new segment will extend 8.5 miles, connecting the Crenshaw Station to the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Two cranes from Bigge’s fleet, the Manitowoc 16000, a 440 ton capacity crawler crane, and the Link-belt HC-278, a 300 ton capacity truck crane, were used to pick the loads from the extraction site. The middle shield, cutterhead, and front shield of the tunnel boring machine, weighing a combined 335 tons, were lifted and set into upright positions. Transportation frames were attached, the components were down ended into their final transport orientations and set onto two of Bigge’s 8 Line Goldhofer Dual Lane trailers for transport. Bigge’s services also included the transportation of 30 loads from the Crenshaw jobsite to the laydown yard in Rancho Cucamonga. Prior to completion of this job, Bigge crews worked around the clock for over 3 weeks removing the trailing gear — over 25 additional loads from the back side of the TBM.
The challenging nature of the lift and the demands of an aggressive schedule worked seamlessly into Bigge’s expertise, as we were able to offer an all-in-one solution for equipment and management. Careful coordination and planning were required to ensure that the project was completed safely, without incident, on-time, and on-budget. Due to our experience and the wide range of equipment at our disposal, Bigge was able to fulfill every request made by our customer. When complete, this Metro extension will offer an alternate transportation option to congested roadways, providing environmental benefits, economic development and employment opportunities throughout the region. Watch the video below to learn more about what happened on the job.
