GCCOM Construction Company Inc. partnered with LGH to safely dismantle the Bayonne Bridge Approaches while working beneath an active bridge construction site.
With limited headroom, multiple trades on-site, and strict safety requirements, GCCOM relied on certified modular rigging and lifting equipment from LGH to complete the structural steel removal safely and efficiently.
The Bayonne Bridge spans the Kill Van Kull, connecting Bayonne, New Jersey, to Staten Island, New York.
For years, large cargo ships could not pass beneath the bridge due to limited vertical clearance. To solve this, the bridge deck was raised by 64 feet to allow modern superliners to reach Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal.
As part of this multi-phase infrastructure project, GCCOM was contracted to dismantle the original structural steel approaches while a new roadway was being constructed approximately 65 feet above.
GCCOM crews were tasked with removing the structural steel skeleton of the old roadway while another contractor simultaneously constructed the new elevated deck above them.
This created:
Each removal span consisted of five floor beams weighing between 50 and 75 tons.
All lifting operations had to occur beneath the new structure.
The jobsite required precise coordination. Crews were working from both the New York and New Jersey sides simultaneously.
Additional challenges included:
Every piece of rigging equipment had to be stamped, serialized, and certified prior to use.
To manage the heavy structural steel removal within tight headroom restrictions, GCCOM rented modular 110-ton spreader beams and associated rigging equipment from LGH.
Lifting and rigging equipment supplied from LGH included:
The modular spreader beam system allowed GCCOM to distribute loads evenly while maintaining safe clearance under the new bridge deck.
GCCOM had previously purchased rigging equipment for projects. However, storing equipment long-term often led to damage, misplaced inventory, or expired certifications.
By renting from LGH, GCCOM received:
During the project, GCCOM realized a set of chokers ordered were too short for the lift plan. One phone call to LGH resulted in the correct equipment arriving the same day, preventing delays.
That responsiveness helped keep demolition operations on schedule.
Despite working in one of the most complex demolition environments in the region, GCCOM successfully advanced the removal of the Bayonne Bridge approaches.
At the time of reporting:
The combination of experienced crews and certified modular lifting equipment enabled safe execution in a high-risk, multi-trade environment.
For GCCOM, LGH was more than a rental provider—it was a trusted partner in solving complex lifting challenges.
GCCOM is a minority-owned steel erecting firm serving the heavy construction market throughout New York and New Jersey. The company specializes in complex public and private infrastructure projects.
Founded in 1990, LGH is the largest organization in North America devoted exclusively to lifting and moving equipment rental.
With over 90,000 pieces of hoisting, pulling, jacking, rigging, material handling, and safety equipment, LGH provides certified solutions for complex infrastructure projects nationwide.
Need certified modular lifting equipment for your next infrastructure project? Contact LGH today.
