85|RT supports major development along Seattle Waterfront

For eight months, the Link-Belt 85|RT 85-ton (80-metric ton) rough terrain crane took center stage in one of Seattle’s most ambitious urban renewal projects — the Overlook Walk. The city’s waterfront required precision lifting in a dense high-traffic environment. For crane operator Nick Jaramillo of Seattle-based Garner Construction, the 85|RT proved to be the perfect crane for the job.

“Everything we needed to do with the 85|RT, we could do,” Jaramillo said.

The Overlook Walk, a decades-long initiative led by the Hoffman Construction Company of Portland, Oregon, is a pedestrian pathway linking the bustling Pike Place Market to the city’s evolving waterfront. The development features vendor spaces, event areas, and a pedestrian bridge connecting to the newly expanded Seattle Aquarium — all key elements in the city’s broader vision for urban renewal.

Navigating the logistics of this high-profile project required strategic equipment selection. Hoffman purchased the 85|RT from Triad Machinery of Tacoma, Washington, for its simple transportability and compact footprint, recognizing its value for future projects.

In addition, its 142 feet of greaseless boom offered impressive capacities at radius, lifting a variety of materials such as 7,000-pound boulders, precast benches, rebar bundles, and 9,600-pound shoring tower flange beams from street level up a vertical incline to the elevated walkways. Paired with the crane’s Variable Confined Area Lifting Capacities feature (V-CALC) and multiple cameras, operating the 85|RT in confined spaces was seamless while completing lifts and traveling the crane down tight roadways.

“Its efficient, straightforward setup and breakdown allowed us to maintain a compact and well-organized job site,” said Hoffman project manager John Hamilton.

Features such as its four-link rear suspension, all-wheel steer, and LED lighting helped make navigating the congested job site simple. Inside the cab, thoughtful design features like cab tilt, ergonomically placed controls, and automatic temperature control boosted both comfort and operational precision.

“You could sit in it all day,” Jaramillo said.

Beyond comfort, the machine’s Link-Belt Pulse 2.0 rated capacity limiter system enabled Jaramillo to easily fine-tune swing, winch, and boom reaction speeds, ensuring smooth, consistent lifts. These features were critical for handling the diverse tasks required on-site.

“You can quickly set it to your liking, and it’s ready to work,” he explained.

With previous experience operating a Link-Belt 100|RT, Jaramillo said the cranes’ shared design features made it seamless to switch between models. He highlighted the 85|RT as one of his favorites for its crucial role in elevating the Seattle waterfront to new heights, helping shape a vital public space for future generations.

“The more I operate Link-Belt RTs, the more I like them,” Jaramillo said.