[Dartmouth] The Angus (5 Williams) | 84 M | 27 FL | U/C - Page 4

Keith P. · #61 Posted **Nov 8, 2024, 11:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by q12

breaking

MacDonald Bridge closed until further notice due to damaged crane

https://halifax.citynews.ca/2024/11/07/m...til-further-notice-due-to-damaged-crane/

Bridge now reopened as of this morning.

It seems the development boom may have overtaken the ability of the crane companies to keep their equipment safe. Either that, or this sort of thing happens all the time elsewhere but we overreact due to "an abundance of caution".

OldDartmouthMark · #62 Posted **Nov 8, 2024, 12:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Bridge now reopened as of this morning.

It seems the development boom may have overtaken the ability of the crane companies to keep their equipment safe. Either that, or this sort of thing happens all the time elsewhere but we overreact due to "an abundance of caution".

It's hard to make assumptions like that without good information, but it sounds like there were legitimate concerns about it being unstable. Perhaps a particular loading and wind scenario could have brought it down?

Macdonald Bridge reopens after crews stabalize damaged crane

Quote:

Roy Hollett, the deputy chief of Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency, told CBC News on Thursday that a supervisor from a construction site where a multi-storey building was being built called with concerns about the stability of a crane.

"In a very quick time period, the Department of Labour was here, various engineers and inspectors found ... some of the supports are not connected to the main frame, that's what was explained to me, and [they were] concerned that the crane could twist and fall," said Hollett.

Hollett said that's when the decision was made to evacuate homes and businesses in the area and direct Halifax Harbour Bridges to close the bridge as a precaution. A company was welding the crane to make it more stable, he said.

I'm sure surrounding homeowners weren't having a good evening...

Quote:

Residents of Faulkner Street are expected to remain out of their homes until a collar is installed to assist in the removal of the crane, the release said.

Dave Meldrum, another deputy fire chief at Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency, told CBC News the plan is to dismantle the crane Friday.

Dmajackson · #63 Posted **Nov 8, 2024, 12:28 PM**

According to AllNS the crane is owned by 20-20 Forming which is the same company that owned the crane that collapsed during Hurricane Dorian. The base was the issue back then. Yesterday a loud pop was heard coming from the base which prompted the emergency evacuation.

It honestly sounds like the forming company is not maintaining its equipment and in both cases the cranes failed in a very crowded, vital part of the city.

OldDartmouthMark · #64 Posted **Nov 8, 2024, 1:12 PM**

Sounds like somebody hasn't been doing thorough enough weld inspections, as fatigue cracks typically take quite a while to progress to the point where there's not enough weld area to handle the stresses. "Everything" is engineered with a safety factor, so if numerous welds broke after the loading on members changed from the initial weld failure, then it sounds like there were several welds that were also compromised through fatigue, or whatever the cause turns out to be.

It didn't come down, so the safety factor obviously did its thing, but it would be a fool's game to continue to use it without further inspection and appropriate repairs. I would expect that each weld joint would/should be inspected by NDT (non destructive testing) to ensure their viability moving forward.

eastcoastal · #65 Posted **Nov 8, 2024, 2:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Bridge now reopened as of this morning.

It seems the development boom may have overtaken the ability of the crane companies to keep their equipment safe. Either that, or this sort of thing happens all the time elsewhere but we overreact due to "an abundance of caution".

I think also that construction companies are strained locally - there's more work than they're used to and fewer trained/qualified workers to do the work. Weren't there multiple serious injuries on the site near Cogswell (Moxy Hotel and apartments)? Richmond Yard set fire to its own roof, and wasn't there a big gas leak on that site a week or so ago? Construction sites are dangerous places and the more rushing and less training that goes on, the more we get accidents. I feel like it's less about crane companies and more about safety culture in general.

I suspect that caution should be more "abundant."

terrynorthend · #66 Posted **Nov 10, 2024, 5:53 PM**

I wonder how much this will set back construction. Dismantling and sourcing/erecting a new crane.

kph06 · #67 Posted **Nov 11, 2024, 1:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrynorthend

I wonder how much this will set back construction. Dismantling and sourcing/erecting a new crane.

From the photos Friday, it seemed like the fix was putting a collar on the mast to support it midway up, which would be required before raising it anyway. The reports had it as a weld failure, so if a collar stabilized it, I’d assume a mast/tower section failed. So if it can’t be repaired, then I’d expect the top would come off, faulty section removed, then a new section goes in. Those sections are very common, and more would have been required for this site very soon. The question would be if they temporarily take the top off with a mobile crane, do they add new sections now, or wait for the climbing frame to be installed and raise it then.

20-20 Forming (formerly Lead), has a climbing frame at King’s Wharf, which now looks topped out. Prior to this incident, I was assuming once that crane was removed at Kings Wharf, the tower sections would be split between this site and the Marlstone, one of their other sites in need of a crane raising.

terrynorthend · #68 Posted **Nov 11, 2024, 9:24 PM**

There was a heavy mobile crane onsite when I drove by Saturday. Nothing was happening though- I suspect it was too windy. We'll see this week what happens

IanWatson · #69 Posted **Nov 13, 2024, 1:13 PM**

Crane boom was gone when I crossed the bridge last night. Looks like the whole thing is coming down.

Arrdeeharharharbour · #70 Posted **Nov 13, 2024, 3:11 PM**

I read this morning that prompted by this incident the province has undertaken an inspection of all tower cranes in HRM. Apparently 8 inspections are complete with 30 more to go.

terrynorthend · #71 Posted **Nov 13, 2024, 4:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arrdeeharharharbour

I read this morning that prompted by this incident the province has undertaken an inspection of all tower cranes in HRM. Apparently 8 inspections are complete with 30 more to go.

Read this too. Also sounds like this particular crane is done. I wonder how quickly the developer/builder can get it replaced... it seems like cranes are fully booked around here as they come down at one site only to appear at another almost immediately

New · #72 Posted **Dec 11, 2024, 12:23 AM**

Any news on a crane repair or replacement for this project? This has been such a disappointment for such a high profile location. That was one of the fastest moving construction projects I have ever seen in this city.

Empire · #73 Posted **Dec 11, 2024, 2:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrynorthend

Read this too. Also sounds like this particular crane is done. I wonder how quickly the developer/builder can get it replaced... it seems like cranes are fully booked around here as they come down at one site only to appear at another almost immediately

It would be great if a local fabricator like Cherubini Metal Works would start constructing cranes.

terrynorthend · #74 Posted **Dec 19, 2024, 9:20 PM**

I think I saw the mobile crane up and working on this site today. Couldn't tell for sure, I was driving along Barrington looking across the harbour through the rain. Hopefully they're finally resetting the tower crane.

AnotherNorthender · #75 Posted **Dec 20, 2024, 12:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrynorthend

I think I saw the mobile crane up and working on this site today. Couldn't tell for sure, I was driving along Barrington looking across the harbour through the rain. Hopefully they're finally resetting the tower crane.

It looked like they were re-erecting the crane as I drove over the Macdonald bridge this morning. There were 1-2 tower sections up this morning - IRCC, the entire crane was dismantled a couple of weeks ago.

markbeaver · #76 Posted **Dec 29, 2024, 6:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnotherNorthender

It looked like they were re-erecting the crane as I drove over the Macdonald bridge this morning. There were 1-2 tower sections up this morning - IRCC, the entire crane was dismantled a couple of weeks ago.

The crane tower is up and the cab is installed, a portable crane looks ready to install the crane’s boom.

markbeaver · #77 Posted **Dec 29, 2024, 6:58 PM**

http://www.flickr.com/photos/markbeaver/54234425283/in/dateposted-public/

Dmajackson · #78 Posted **Mar 4, 2025, 1:10 AM**

They're working on Floor 16. Framing is starting on the podium along Williams Street. Panel are starting to go up on the backside of the tower.

HalifaxDevelopments.ca (Photo by David Jackson)

Dmajackson · #79 Posted **May 19, 2025, 3:15 PM**

I noticed this is becoming quite visible around town. It lines up great heading down Magazine Hill which is ~7km away.

HalifaxDevelopments.ca (Photo by David Jackson)

terrynorthend · #80 Posted **May 19, 2025, 4:36 PM**

Nice! I was thinking how great this area will look fully built out from Magazine Hill, Barrington Street by Irving Shipyard, and there's a spot along the Burnside Connector too that has a great vista including peninsular Halifax.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

I noticed this is
becoming quite visible around town. It lines up great heading down Magazine Hill which is ~7km away.

HalifaxDevelopments.ca (Photo by David Jackson)