Jumping a Bridge: Our Specialized Transportation Team Doing The Impossible
At Omega Morgan, we’re proud to provide outside-the-box, expertly engineered solutions to make even the seemingly impossible projects a success. When a Sacramento utility company needed to move a 179,000-pound transformer over a bridge that couldn’t handle the weight, our Houston-based team did just that. Tapping into their experience and industry expertise, they got innovative and ultimately decided to “jump the bridge.”
A Specialized Transportation Company That Thinks Big–And Heavy
The first phase of this specialized transportation project was to pick up the new transformer from a rail site near Sacramento and transport it roughly 60 miles to Pollock Pines, CA. There, we staged it in a nearby forest service yard while we waited out weather and seasonal delays.
When we were clear to resume work, our crew of five began swiftly constructing a temporary bridge that would span over the top of the existing bridge and would be strong enough to support the transformer’s weight. Using reach forklifts, our crew precisely placed steel girders onto cribbing for stabilization. In just one week, we completed the structure and were ready to move onto the next phase.
Industrial Transport Solutions – And More
Once the temporary bridge was ready, we loaded the transformer, measuring 23’5” x 11’ x 13’6”, onto our 6-line self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT). With careful precision, we raised the SPMT trailer, then lowered it onto the girders. We then slid the transformer across, easing it onto the other side without putting any weight on the existing bridge below.
In true Omega Morgan fashion, our team went above and beyond on this project by providing additional support, transporting the old transformer out of the substation for the company contracted for decommissioning.
Specialized Transportation Services That Deliver
In the end, the transformer made it safely to the substation, and the “bridge jump” was a complete success. Our customer praised our crew for professionalism, problem-solving, and precision. Most importantly, we proved once again that when faced with the impossible, our team finds a way to get the job done right.
