yellow arrowBack
7th November 2016

Ainscough Crane Hire Play Part In New M6 Motorway Link

cranes

Under construction since January 2014, the Bay Gateway, from Heysham to the M6 motorway link has opened, thanks in part to extensive work from Ainscough Crane Hire’s Preston Depot.

First proposed in 1948, the three-mile Bay Gateway connects Heysham’s village port and power stations to the M6 at junction 34. It cost £140 million to construct. Alongside the re-modelled dual-carriageway, a park-and-ride site for 650 cars and a bridge over the River Lune at Lune West has also opened.

Ainscough supplied up to six cranes a day to meet the construction demands of the road and were contracted to reinforced concrete specialists, R Betts Construction Ltd. Throughout the two-year period, Ainscough completed lifts on the River Lune bridge, assisting in laying the deck for the main bridge, lifts on surround bridges and installing a gantry across the motorway.

The lifting requirements on this project saw cranes being supplied from 40 to 500 tonnes, with the most frequently used being the Liebherr LTM 1055-3.2, a 55 tonne all-terrain crane. Ainscough’s involvement in the Bay Gateway was crucial as Preston depot manager Alan Dakin explained: “The job was very complex, we were on the site non-stop and had up to six cranes on site every day.

“The job and the lifts proved to be testing due to the size of the project, however with 470 cranes in our fleet, we were able to meet their demands. As the works unfolded, we built a great rapport with the customer.

“We were on call 24/7 and worked through the night and at weekends on more than one occasion, ensuring the job was a success and the road was able to be opened on time.”

Stephen Halliwell, director at R Betts Construction added: “We have a long-standing relationship with Ainscough Crane Hire and they deliver for us time and again. They are a trusted partner of ours and gave their customary professional and diligent service to us on the Heysham Gateway project.”

Heysham Port is the third largest in the North West and is developing as a hub for services to Southern and Northern Ireland.

Call Us today on 0800 272 637