A Liebherr MK 88-4.1 mobile construction crane, deployed by the Ponticelli group of companies, has repaired part of a historic Paris bridge and reinstalled a damaged piece of artwork on the Pont-Neuf. The crane worked on "La Caverne du Pont-Neuf," an installation by the French artist JR.
The temporary artwork was created as a tribute to the legendary wrapping of the Pont-Neuf by artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, first installed in 1985. The inflatable structure is approximately 120 metres long. In early June, violent gusts of wind and hail damaged parts of its outer shell.
Within hours, the French lifting and industrial services company Ponticelli developed a lifting solution. "We were on site just a few hours after the damage occurred to work out the best technical solution together with the client," said Louis-Arthur de Quatrebarbes, head of the handling and lifting agency at Ponticelli. "As well as repairing the tarpaulin, we had to carry out a lifting operation safely in almost constant wind and under considerable time pressure."
The Pont-Neuf is the oldest bridge in Paris, with limited space for work and a large number of daily visitors. The team used load-distribution plates to reduce ground pressure, while safety and traffic management measures kept the operation safe.
Although the team originally planned to use a larger Liebherr mobile crane, the tight conditions led it to bring in the MK 88-4.1. Its 45-metre-long trolley jib reached all the damaged areas of the structure, and its four-axle design allowed easy relocation from one side of the bridge to the other, where there was also storm damage. A short set-up time and a compact outrigger system further facilitated the work.
The crane cab added the benefit of moving at working height, giving the operator a clear view of the approximately 18-metre-high structure and the rope access technicians. Boom-mounted spotlights ensured optimal illumination during night-time operations.
The repair work was carried out over four night shifts. Damaged fabric sections weighing between 200 and 400 kilograms were lifted and reattached in collaboration with rope access technicians. Because the site sits in a wind corridor along the River Seine, weather conditions were monitored continuously, and the crane operator and rope access technicians stayed in constant radio contact.
Before work began, the team carried out site inspections, load calculations and collision analyses of the surrounding buildings. A 360-degree test then confirmed the planned crane positioning.
For Ponticelli, the project went well beyond a conventional lifting operation. "We are proud to have been part of this work of art," de Quatrebarbes said, quoting JR's remark that the installation of the artwork is part of the artwork. "And so is the crane. The visually striking deployment of the MK crane created a magical moment."
With its deployment on the Pont-Neuf, the Liebherr MK 88-4.1 demonstrated its strengths in demanding inner-city projects. Where heritage conservation, confined spaces and a high level of precision come together, the company says, the mobile construction crane offers a combination of reach, compactness and flexibility.