Collaborative Synergy

March 7, 2024 marked a significant milestone in TNT Crane & Rigging’s legacy. On that date, the Houston-based company and a team of contractors completed the installation of a more than 1,500-foot water pipeline beneath the Guadalupe River in San Antonio, Texas. The unique and complex lift involved eight cranes.

It all began in October 2023 when J7 Services, LLC, the lift coordination contractor, entrusted TNT Crane with providing crane support for the Alliance Regional Water pipeline project. Over the course of the 16-month long project, TNT worked with J7 Service, Garney Companies, Inc. the general contractor and directional drilling contractor Hardrock Infrastructure.

Choosing the right equipment was critical for the successful completion of the ambitious project. For the task, TNT utilized eight hydraulic all-terrain cranes, including five Tadano ATF110G-5 models, two Grove GMK5165 machines and a Liebherr LTM 1095-5.1. Also deployed were five track hoes and three loaders.

The project’s scope entailed installing a 36-inch water pipeline beneath the river by horizontally drilling 1,579 feet at a diameter of 54 inches. The standard methods of inserting pipe into a Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) hole are typically reliant on equipment like pipe rollers, stands and side booms. However, in the case of this project, the specific angle of the drill necessitated a departure from traditional techniques. 

While the unique angle of the drill made conventional methods impractical and posed a formidable challenge, the contractors rose to the occasion. With carefully planned rigging and by coordinating the lift using the eight TNT cranes, the pipe was supported at critical points along its length to conform to its natural curvature and then elevated to a height of 35 feet above the ground. 

While a meticulous approach ensured that the pipe could smoothly glide into the hole without encountering any obstructions, the project faced other challenges as well. Leading up the project’s start, heavy rain only allowed for a tight window for scheduling, mobilization and setup of equipment and to complete the job.

Meeting Challenges

Collectively, TNT and the project’s other contractors met all the formidable challenges they faced. With the right equipment for the task and a large inventory of mobile cranes located throughout the state of Texas, TNT Crane & Rigging swiftly mobilized resources from San Antonio, backed by support from branches in Corpus Christi, Austin, Dallas and Houston.

Just as importantly, it took a team of professionals to execute the work safely and successfully complete the Alliance Regional Water pipeline installation.

“The successful completion of this project not only exemplifies our dedication to providing the unparalleled delivery of crane rental services,” TNT wrote. “It also underscores the transformative power of collaboration that comes from aligning with organizations that share our commitment to exceeding expectations.”

Rich History

In 1985, TNT Crane & Rigging began serving the industry with a single 18-ton crane and a straightforward philosophy: to provide outstanding service and ensure a safe and enduring career for employees. Over the years, the Houston-based company has grown exponentially, evolving into one of the largest crane companies in North America.

Today, the TNT Crane & Rigging family of companies includes a network of more than 40 branches in the central, southeast and Rocky Mountain regions of the U.S. and in the Canadian Rockies and western Canada. The TNT fleet now numbers 700 cranes, and across North America the company has more than 1,700 employees.

For TNT Crane & Rigging, success is also measured by the trust of more than 4,000 customers who call on the company to provide comprehensive lifting solutions in a wide range of commercial, industrial and infrastructure markets.