They have done many difficult restorations over the years, but lifting an 80-ton crane from three houses on the coast is going to be a daunting and “challenging” endeavor for Clayton’s Towing.
The crane fell into Benjamin Crescent’s three homes in Nirimba at around 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The police said it was a miracle no one was injured.
Residents were shocked by the incident, and people several blocks away said they heard it.
Clayton’s Towing was entrusted with the recovery of the massive crane. The crews stabilized the vehicle on Saturday before it was supposed to be removed on Tuesday.
Clayton’s tow owner Mike Clayton said it was a challenging project with up to 15 people and multiple vehicles involved.
“There are a couple of challenges because we are obviously working in narrow streets with lots of houses and the legs of the crane are already compromised and broken off on one side,” he said.
“We can’t afford to go wrong.
“So it will be an arduous task to do it properly and safely is the main thing.”
Three houses were damaged when a crane overturned in Nirimba on Friday afternoon.
He said it was one of the company’s biggest recovery jobs.
“We’ve run cranes before, but this one definitely has its own challenges, especially when sitting through three houses,” he said.
Mr. Clayton revealed how the company intended to safely remove it and minimize further damage priorities.
“Basically we have to try to get two cranes to take some weight off the houses, then connect a separate pump to the crane’s hydraulics and use that pump to close the boom,” he said.
“The idea is to close it (boom) so it’s much safer to level the crane.”
Paramedics rushed to Nirimba after a crane allegedly landed on structures. Image: Bailey Scott
Mr Clayton said two tow trucks would then be hooked up to the crane to slowly get it back on its wheels.
“It’s going to be a very slow process to get it back on the wheels so there is no risk,” he said.
He said the crane would then be placed on a flatbed truck for transport so that insurance companies could assess the damage.
Mr Clayton said the above plans were the ideal scenario but admitted that anything could happen.
“Things can change and we could go to pick it up and there might be an arch (in the boom) that won’t close,” he said.
“That could change the process and we might have to reduce the boom and there are different scenarios.
“During towing operations, it is never cut and dry.”
