Project Overview
Location: Dyke Parade, Cork City
Timeline: December 2024 – February 2025
Cranes Deployed:
Outcome
- All three chillers were safely removed and replaced without incident
- The project was completed on schedule with no disruption to local traffic or hospital access
- The client was extremely satisfied with the stress-free, professionally managed operation
The Challenge
Kavanagh Crane Hire was contracted to replace three 9-ton rooftop chiller units on a commercial building located in the centre of Cork City. The job posed a number of complex challenges:
- Restricted Setup Area: The only available crane setup space was on Dyke Parade — a main arterial route into the city from the west. This road is heavily trafficked and situated adjacent to a hospital, meaning a full road closure was not an option.
- Difficult Reach: The units were positioned deep within the building’s roof footprint, requiring a crane with significant lifting capacity and extended boom reach while avoiding boom restrictions.
- Tight Spatial Constraints: Outriggers had to be positioned over large load-spreading mats to meet low ground pressure requirements, further reducing available setup space.
- Storage Limitations: The client had no on-site space to accommodate the new chillers between delivery and installation.
The Solution
Kavanagh Crane Hire developed and executed a comprehensive turnkey plan that addressed all technical and logistical barriers:
- Permit & Access Management: We secured the necessary permits from Cork City Council to operate on the road. Advance notifications were distributed to nearby residents and businesses to ensure parking bays were vacated ahead of time.
- Proactive Traffic Control: A traffic management team was mobilised 12 hours before lift commencement. They gradually secured car parking spaces as they became available, allowing continuous traffic flow during crane operation.
- Equipment Staging: Using our 90T Liebherr LTM1090-4.2 crane, we received and stored the new chillers at our Cork yard for several weeks prior to installation.
Crane Selection & Setup: We deployed our Liebherr LTM1300-6.3 crane, chosen for its long boom technology and VarioBase® system, which enabled safe setup in the confined road space while maintaining full lifting performance. - Efficient Execution: On the lift day, the chillers were transported from our yard to site via Arctic truck. As the old units were removed, the new chillers were lifted directly into position using certified lifting gear — all while maintaining live traffic beside the setup.
