Link-Belt lattice crawlers work major projects across Texas

Big B Crane of Burleston, Texas, maintains a fleet of Link-Belt Cranes lattice crawlers for large-scale work across the state. Two recent jobs include building a parking garage for a major amphitheater development and a highway bridge job.

Big B Division Manager Kenneth Green said Link-Belt cranes are highly valued for their efficiency and impressive jib charts. For these qualities among others, Big B has invested in 12 Link-Belt lattice crawlers since 2021, ranging from the 150-ton 238 HSL to the 300-ton 348 Series 2.

“The lattice boom Link-Belt crawlers are easy to move and efficient to transport,” Green said.

The parking garage will accommodate the Sunset Amphitheater, an outdoor live music and entertainment venture in McKinney, Texas, projected to create $3 billion in total economic impact over the next 10 years, according to the amphitheater’s website. Set on a 46-acre site, the venue will seat up to 20,000 people at full capacity, supporting more than 1,300 direct and indirect jobs.

298 Series 2, 248 HSL, and 228 HSL lattice cranes are working on-site as part of the project, lifting and placing rebar and forms. The work included 69 elevated slab pours and 45,000 cubic yards of concrete, necessitating 200 men and 32 weeks of labor from the first to the final pick.

Along with this, Big B is utilizing a 300-ton 348 Series 2 lattice crawler to set 180-foot-long steel girders as part of a bridge job. The crane set single girders weighing 75,000 pounds and tandem picked two girders, combining for a weight of 145,000 pounds and a length of 180 feet, along with a 250-ton 298 Series 2 lattice crawler.

“With this job demanding a reliable crane to set the steel girders over a major interstate, we felt confident in these two Link-Belts to get the job done,” Green said. “Operation went smoothly while these cranes worked together.”