Further supporting environmental restoration and infrastructure needs at Yellowstone National Park, Mountain Crane Service utilizes three Liebherr LTM mobile crane models to support the heavy lifting needs of demolishing the decades old Yellowstone River Bridge.

Known as the first national park in the United States, Yellowstone National Park spans approximately 3,460 mi² throughout Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. The park offers a variety of flora and fauna, as well as a hydrothermal system attracting over 4 million recreational visitors annually.

With so many visitors traveling through the park each year, managing road infrastructure is critical to maintaining the traffic flow through the natural surroundings, including the installation of the new Yellowstone River Bridge carrying traffic across one of the park’s most critical corridors. With the new crossing officially open, crews shifted their focus to the final phase of the project – demolition of the original bridge.

Liebherr mobile cranes were the ideal choice for the Yellowstone River Bridge demolition, combining powerful telescopic booms with easy transport to support efficient setup and precise lifting in a challenging terrain. Their ability to reach varying working heights quickly, along with a wide range of configurations, provided Mountain Crane with the versatility needed for the demo project. Many Liebherr all-terrain cranes are also equipped with advanced safety features such as VarioBase®, VarioBallast® and the LICCON crane control system, enhancing operator safety and operational efficiency.

The project also included environmental restoration of the surrounding corridor including former roadway sections, rehabilitation of nearby wetlands, and returning portions of Lost Creek to a more natural channel once demolition was fully completed.

Established over 20 years ago, Mountain Crane has become one of the top crane companies in the country offering over 100 cranes in their full-service fleet. The Utah based company currently supports heavy lifting and rigging services as well as heavy transport for wind, industrial, and general construction applications. Offering a huge range of rentals to meet each of their customers’ project requirements, Mountain Crane continues to be a major leader in the industry setting themselves apart with major lifts including the Yellowstone bridge demolition.

The new Yellowstone River Bridge represents a major investment in long-term infrastructure within the national park. Mountain Crane’s use of multiple Liebherr all-terrain cranes highlights the importance of selecting the right equipment for the job, where precise lifting capacity, reach and maneuverability are essential to completing critical lifts safely and efficiently.

The Liebherr LTM 1110-5.1 mobile crane is a five-axle model that was designed as a lightweight option for flexible and economic transport. This crane also comes equipped with VarioBase® variable support base that generates higher lifting capacities in the areas above the outriggers. These attributes make it easy to transport, but also offers more powerful lifts.

Although Mountain Crane offers a wide variety of Liebherr models in their vast fleet, each of these Liebherr mobile cranes played a vital role in the complex demolition of the original Yellowstone River Bridge. Whether it was maneuvering steep terrain or having the proper lifting capacity, each crane provided flexible adaptations to complete this project safely with minimal effects to the park’s environment.