Case Study

Chesapeake Bay Bridge Restoration

Safeguarding a Maryland Icon

North American Millwright Services completed a highly technical rigging and installation project on the Bay Bridge, setting critical switchgear more than 200 feet above the water from a barge-based operation. Using custom-engineered rigging, our team precisely swung the equipment into position through a doorway located midway up the bridge pier. Once inside the structure, the switchgear was rigged through the pier to an interior room, where chain falls were used to lift it an additional 50 feet and set it in its final position for electrical hookup.

Challenge

The project required installing heavy electrical equipment at extreme elevation in a marine environment with limited access points. Working from a barge added complexity, as precise control was required to safely maneuver the switchgear through a narrow doorway within the bridge pier. Once inside, the confined space and vertical lift to the final location demanded careful planning, controlled movements, and strict adherence to safety protocols.

Solution

NAMS developed a custom-engineered rigging plan to safely control the lift from the barge and guide the switchgear through the pier opening. Our experienced rigging crew coordinated each phase of the move, transitioning the load through the structure and utilizing chain falls to complete the final 50-foot vertical lift. Through precise execution and proven rigging methods, the switchgear was successfully set in place, ready for hookup, demonstrating our expertise in complex, high-risk infrastructure projects.

Services provided include

Industrial maintenance, Welding, Fabrication, Construction & General Contracting