Link-Belts Complete Heavy Picks, Work $1.3B GDOT Project

Link-Belt crawler cranes are vital to a massive infrastructure renovation issued by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). Using a 200-ton 248 HSL and a 150-ton 238 HSL, C.W. Matthews of Marietta, Ga., is the lead construction contractor on the $1.3 billion project.

With plans to build several interchange ramps, collector-distributor lanes and replace nearly 30 bridges around the I-285/I-20 West interchange near Atlanta, the work is estimated to last five years. The Link-Belt machines are busy constructing pier columns, some up to 90 ft. tall, as part of the first phase of a 2,500-ft.-long skyway development. The cranes are lifting and placing column forms weighing up to 24,000 lbs. as well as rebar cages to support the build.

C.W. Matthews interchange project manager Mark Dolan said the Link-Belts are perfect for the job.

"The 200- and 150-ton Link-Belts are just ideal machines for highway and bridge work in this market," Dolan said. "We have a lot of trust in those cranes and the operators when they make those huge picks."

Ronald Carter, an operator with 50 years of experience at C.W. Matthews, said he loves Link-Belt cranes on account of their reliable operation, strong capacities and versatility.

"These Link-Belt cranes are made dependable," Carter said. "They can do just about anything you want in terms of lifting materials of all kinds."

This was prevalent on this job site while handling the formwork and rebar cages, which required a precise operation to "thread the needle" when connecting the cages. In addition, he said these cranes feature supreme cab comfort and visibility to maximize the operator experience.

"I would recommend these cranes because they're easy to run, they're comfortable to sit in, and they make your job a whole lot easier," Carter said. "I enjoy running Link-Belts. I don't think I'd be here this long if I didn't."

Strong Dealer Support

With trusted Link-Belt dealer Atlantic & Southern Equipment's Atlanta branch located so close to the job, C.W. Matthews can work confidently across phases. Dolan noted the advantage of Link-Belt's distributor network and its commitment to customer satisfaction.

"Link-Belt cranes are well made, and we get great, dependable service from Atlantic & Southern," Dolan said. "We can rely on them."

This sentiment is shared by C.W. Matthews equipment manager John Faress, who noted that C.W. Matthews has used — and relied — on Link-Belt cranes for over 35 years. He said Atlantic & Southern is top class when it comes to maintaining the machines at work and optimizing his crew's output.

"With cranes, they're an expensive capital asset," Faress said. "That means we require equipment that is reliable and a dealer that can support us and maximize our uptime."

For more information, visit linkbelt.com.

(Article based on C.W. Matthew's individual experience. Results may vary.)