Bridge Bearing Replacement Using eSync Portable Synchronous Lifting System at Highway Overpasses

Bridge bearings are critical infrastructure components that transfer loads from the bridge deck to the supporting structure while accommodating movement from traffic, temperature change, and structural expansion. When bearings need replacement, crews must lift the structure in a controlled manner, maintain alignment, and return the bridge to position after installation.

In Klickitat County, Washington, Granite Construction performed bridge bearing replacement work on highway overpasses using an eSync synchronous lifting solution. The application demonstrates how cordless hydraulic lifting technology can support bridge maintenance where synchronized control, portability, and access are important to the jobsite.

Granite Construction was involved in bridge maintenance work in Klickitat County, Washington, where bridge bearings on highway overpasses required replacement. Although bridge bearings are not visible to most drivers, these components are essential to keeping bridge structures functioning as designed.

 

Bearing replacement requires crews to create controlled access beneath the bridge structure while preserving alignment and managing movement at the lift points. The work area included limited clearance under the girders, uneven access beneath the span, and the need to return the bridge to position after the new bearings were installed. The work was also conducted in a remote area without easy access to a power supply.

• Control bridge movement during lifting and lowering

• Maintain alignment while bearings are removed and replaced

• Support work in tight access areas beneath the structure

• Reduce jobsite complexity with portable hydraulic equipment

Granite Construction utilized a portable cordless eSync synchronous lifting system to coordinate bridge lifting operations during the bearing replacement project.

The ES84PRTYXB configuration included the PB43MX2-1 60V pump and US charger/battery package. Together, the eSync system and battery-powered pump provided the cordless hydraulic power and synchronized control required for the bridge maintenance work.

The project photographs show hydraulic equipment staged on the bridge deck and crews working beneath the concrete structure to access and replace bearings. The cordless eSync platform supports a cleaner jobsite setup for synchronized lifting applications by aligning the control system and battery-powered hydraulic pump package around the bridge maintenance task.

The cordless eSync ES84PRTYXB synchronous lifting system and PB43MX2-1 battery-powered hydraulic pump package provided the control, portability, and precise positioning required for bridge bearing replacement. The system eliminated the need for an on-site generator. The lightweight, two-person portable design also simplified transportation and eliminated the need for a crane. On applicable projects, eliminating the crane and generator requirements can save more than $15,000 per day in equipment-related costs.

• Controlled bridge movement during bearing removal and installation

• Support for positioning accuracy during lift and return-to-position work

• Portable cordless setup for infrastructure maintenance environments