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CRANES in Action
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Mountain Crane Service used Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1, LTM 1400-7.1, and LTM 1110-5.1 cranes to dismantle the original Yellowstone River Bridge.
CRANES in Action
All-Terrain Cranes Work in the Wild
Removing a bridge that had stood for more than 60 years in Yellowstone National Park required a carefully staged operation. Near Tower Junction along the Northeast Entrance Road, crews worked to dismantle the original Yellowstone River Bridge after a new crossing was completed and opened to traffic.
Mountain Crane Service provided lifting and rigging support for RLW Construction, bringing three Liebherr all-terrain cranes to the project: an LTM 1650-8.1, an LTM 1400-7.1, and an LTM 1110-5.1.
The cranes were used throughout the demolition as crews worked through the structure piece by piece. The operation began with the concrete deck before moving to the bridge’ s steel and concrete support elements. Working in the steep canyon terrain meant the equipment had to handle the different lifting requirements as the demolition progressed.
At the center of the operation was the eight-axle LTM 1650-8.1, which is rated in the 770-U. S.-ton class. The seven-axle LTM 1400-7.1 has a maximum lifting capacity of 500 U. S. tons, while the LTM 1110-5.1 was also part of the crane fleet supporting the work.
The LTM 1650-8.1 offers multiple setup configurations, while the LTM 1400-7.1 can be equipped with different boom configurations and features an adjustable counterweight radius. Those capabilities gave the crew different equipment options as the bridge came apart in stages.
The demolition also had an environmental component. Work was planned around the Yellowstone River ecosystem, with the surrounding corridor scheduled for restoration after the old bridge was removed. That work included former roadway sections and nearby wetlands, along with returning portions of Lost Creek to a more natural channel.
With the bridge dismantled, the crane operation marked an important step in completing the infrastructure work around the new Yellowstone River crossing. The three Liebherr cranes provided the lifting equipment needed to take apart the old structure in a controlled, phased operation within Yellowstone’ s challenging landscape.
Tropical Shipping Orders Four Konecranes Mobile Harbor Cranes
Tropical Shipping has ordered four Konecranes Gottwald ESP. 6 Mobile Harbor Cranes to support container handling operations in Florida and the U. S. Virgin Islands. The order was booked during the second quarter of 2026, with delivery and commissioning scheduled for the second quarter of 2027.
The new cranes will be deployed across several locations in Tropical Shipping’ s network. One crane will be delivered to Riviera Beach, Florida, while one will be installed in St. Croix and two will be placed in St. Thomas. According to Konecranes, these will be the first mobile harbor cranes ever deployed in the U. S. Virgin Islands, expanding quayside cargo-handling capabilities on both islands.
Tropical Shipping has operated Konecranes equipment for more than 20 years, including earlier-generation Konecranes Gottwald mobile harbor cranes. The new order adds Generation 6 mobile harbor crane technology to the company’ s fleet.
The order also includes Konecranes TRUCONNECT remote monitoring technology. Because Tropical Shipping performs most of its maintenance work across multiple island locations, the remote monitoring system is intended to provide operational data that allows Konecranes to support the company with spare parts and technical assistance when needed.
Konecranes said the project also aligns with its Ecolifting initiative, which focuses on reducing emissions in port operations through technologies including renewable diesel-powered, hybrid, and fully electric equipment. The new mobile harbor cranes use a diesel-electric platform designed to improve operating efficiency while lowering emissions.
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September 2026 • www. cranehotline. com