Dual Grove all-terrains provide stability for Detroit demolition

Two Grove all-terrain cranes played a pivotal role in demolishing an abandoned building at a General Motors facility in Michigan. Detroit-based JJ Curran Crane used a GMK6300L and a GMK6400 to assist with one of the demolition’s most difficult tasks: the removal of a 67.5 USt steel walkway.

Chad McComas, a crane operator with JJ Curran, said the cranes were chosen for their job site maneuverability, along with their high lifting capacities from compact footprints.

“There was a lot of steel that needed to be cut to free the walkway from the outside wall of the building,” he explained. “We needed cranes that could fit in tight quarters, offer our demolition crew maximum stability while they worked and be able to take the brunt of the walkway once it was cut free. I’m happy to say that both the GMK6300L and the GMK6400 performed without a hitch throughout the process.”

Contractors positioned the 350 USt GMK6300L on one side of the walkway, with the 450 USt GMK6400 stationed at the opposite side. After rigging segments of the walkway to each crane, a demolition crew proceeded to sever the walkway’s connections to the building’s walls and foundation. The free-hanging structure was then lowered to the ground, where the crew cut it roughly in half, resulting in two pieces that weighed approximately 35 USt each. Both Grove cranes easily lifted their respective steel segments down to street level for further disassembly and disposal.

The walkway removal took only 15 hours to complete—it was a testament to JJ Curran’s careful planning, which the all-terrain performance of the two Grove cranes made possible.

“There was not much room to maneuver on this job site,” said McComas. “But the GMK6300L and the GMK6400 gave us the stability and capacity on a small enough footprint to carefully complete the walkway separation without stopping for readjustments. By the time the sun was setting, we had already safely maneuvered the large pieces of steel to the street below. It was a great example of using the latest equipment to take a complex problem and safely engineer a solution.”

JJ Curran Crane has offered its services to southeastern Michigan for more than 65 years and boasts a comprehensive fleet of cranes that range in capacity from 8 USt to 450 USt. The Detroit-based company has performed work at some of the most notable landmarks in its city of origin, including Joe Louis Arena, Comerica Park and Ford Field.