Madison Dam Bridge Crane Rehabilitation—Madison County, MT

PPL Montana

Operators of this vintage dam on the Madison River had been coping with severe limitations of the plant bridge crane capacity for years. Worn out crane components combined with deterioration of the runway and supporting building structures had caused the 25-ton Ederer bridge crane to be de-rated to 10 tons. Even then the crane could only operate safely within a portion of the powerhouse. With turbine repairs looming on the horizon, PPL Montana hired Dix Corporation to evaluate the existing crane and runway and to propose repairs to restore some of that lost capacity and to comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.179. Dix work includes the replacement of the trolley, hoist, end trucks and controls on the crane, new runway rails and selected repairs and reinforcements to the supporting structures.