Seattle's Overlook Walk

For eight months, an 80 tonne Link-Belt 85|RT Rough Terrain took centre stage in one of Seattle’s most ambitious urban renewal projects, the $70 million Overlook Walk - a pedestrian pathway linking the Pike Place Market to the city’s evolving waterfront. The development is the culmination of a decades long initiative led by Hoffman Construction of Portland, Oregon, and features vendor and event areas and a pedestrian bridge to the newly expanded Seattle Aquarium.

The city’s waterfront required a crane that could work in the congested high traffic environment. Crane operator Nick Jaramillo of Seattle’s Garner Construction said it was the perfect crane for the job. “Everything we needed to do we could do with the 85|RT,” he said. Hoffman purchased the 85|RT from Triad Machinery of Tacoma, Washington, for its easy transport and compact working footprint.

The 80 tonne 85|RT weighs in at 47.6 tonnes with full counterweight or 39 tonnes with it removed with its new removal system. It features a full power, five section 43.3 metre boom with 10.7 to 17.7 metre ‘SmartFly’ extension with manual offsets up to 45 degrees.

The crane also has a 2.9 metre offset fly jib capable of lifting 22.6 tonnes and ideal for applications where two load lines are necessary for loads such as precast panels. Link-Belt’s V-CALC - Variable Confined Area Lifting Capacities - system features variable outrigger configurations with real time 360 degree charts. When working on the Overlook Walk project the crane lifted a variety of materials such as 3.2 tonne boulders, precast benches, rebar bundles,

and 4.4 tonne shoring tower flange beams from street level up a vertical incline to the elevated walkways. Jaramillo said: “The V-CALC and cameras made operating the 85|RT in confined spaces or traveling down narrow roadways a breeze.

Project manager John Hamilton added: “The crane’s efficient, straightforward setup and breakdown allowed us to maintain a compact and well organised site, while its four link rear suspension, all-wheel steer and LED lighting helped make navigating the congested site simple.”