For Immediate Release

August 31, 2005

MCG Helps Roll Out New Texas Road

A Manitowoc crane helps with the construction of a new highway in central Texas.

A 78 km (49 mile) stretch of road in central Texas, US is being constructed with Manitowoc Crane Group lifting technology. The roll-call of products on this $1.5 billion job has included Manitowoc Model 555 and Model 777 lattice-boom crawler cranes, along with eight Grove RT760E rough-terrain cranes. The contract, handled by a consortium of contractors known as Lone Star Infrastructure (LSI), is one of the largest highway projects currently taking place in the US. LSI comprises Fluor Corp, Balfour Beatty Construction, and T J Lambrecht Co.

The cranes have been provided by the Dallas and Houston branches of Manitowoc distributor H&E Equipment Services. H&E has a network of depots that stretch from Las Vegas, Nevada in the west to Charlotte, North Carolina in the east and beyond.

The two Manitowoc crawler cranes have been used to handle bridge building and overpass work needed to connect with nearby I-35. The work proved no problem for the 181 t (200 USt) rated Model 777 and 136 t (150 USt) rated Model 555. Meanwhile, the 55 t (60 USt) capacity Grove RTs have assisted with the bridge work and also act as pick and carry units to move materials around the job site.

With an ambitious goal to complete the turnpike by 2007, the roadway is being built through an innovative delivery system never before used in Texas. Under a Comprehensive Developer Agreement, Lone Star Infrastructure has been able to complete various phases of the project simultaneously, rather than the traditional process that divides funding, design, and construction into steps. This has meant a large number of cranes were required quickly and more are expected on site as work progresses.

Set for completion in 2007, this contract will require 23 million m³ (30 million yd³) of dirt and 2 million m² (2.7 million yd²) of concrete pavement. Some 32,500 m² (350,000 ft²) of steel will be used to build bridges and 465,000 m² (5 million ft²) of concrete will be poured to form overpasses. In addition, 125,000 m (410,000 ft) of concrete beams will be required during the construction process. The four-lane roadway is designed with limited frontage roads and will have toll facilities at multiple locations.

About The Manitowoc Company
The Manitowoc Company, Inc. is one of the world's largest providers of lifting equipment for the global construction industry, including lattice-boom cranes,tower cranes, mobile telescopic cranes, and boom trucks. As a leading manufacturer of ice-cube machines, ice/beverage dispensers, and commercial refrigeration equipment, the company offers the broadest line of cold-focused equipment for the foodservice industry. In addition, the company is a leading provider of shipbuilding, ship repair, and conversion services for government, military, and commercial customers throughout the U.S. maritime industry.

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