Building the Cycleway Can Be Dangerous

Dramatic video

Information courtesy of www.constructiondigital.com

A dramatic toppling of a 200 ton crane was captured on video in 2010 during construction of the Huruhuru Cycleway Bridge for the Waikato River Cycleway Trail.

Fortunately no-one was injured - the crane operator acting quickly to swing his cab out of harm's way, escaping relatively unharmed.

An embankment built especially for the crane, loosened by days of heavy rainfall, slowly began to give way under the enormous weight of the machine and the bridge suspension. The video shows the operator trying to compensate just before the entire embankment collapses out from under the machine, resulting in a dramatic crash.

The failure is an expensive reminder of the importance of a solid foundation for heavy lifting, as compacting concerns were cited for the mishap.

The building of New Zealand's Cycleway is not without its own risks!  We're just please there was no major injury.  As you can see, it could easily have been a lot worse.