Spider’s Float Platform Enables Bridge Maintenance in Northern California

The Spider division of SafeWorks LLC, provided a suspended scaffolding solution for maintenance on a wooden suspension bridge that spans the south fork of the American River in Placerville, Calif.

The 75-year-old Mosquito Bridge is just nine feet wide and 140 feet long, but is crossed by about 1,300 vehicles per day. The El Dorado County Transportation Bridge crew has been using Spider equipment for annual maintenance projects for several years. This summer the crew turned to Spider for the replacement of the main support beams that ranged from 500 to 800 pounds each and up to 18 feet in length.

Spider provided a 20-foot-wide by 24-foot-long NextGen float platform, equipped with four double-lined SC1000 air hoists that yielded a total platform load rating of 8,000 pounds. This provided sufficient space and capacity for two workers to simultaneously dismantle an old beam below the bridge and install a new beam. Because of the narrow roadways and rugged terrain, the platform was assembled off-site and rigged into place with a crane. Spider’s team provided onsite training to enable the crew to safely reposition the platform.

Also, Spider provided two material hoist line kits with SC1000 traction hoists to transport the heavy beams.

“This summer’s maintenance project on the Mosquito Bridge required more than just the standard Spider platform we typically use,” said Gino Klare, bridge maintenance supervisor with the county of El Dorado. “Spider understood our needs and designed a custom platform that would work for us.”

Spider manufactures powered suspended access products including traction and drum material hoists, work cages and baskets, modular work platforms, rigging equipment and supplies and fall-protection equipment solutions.

Based in Tukwila, Wash., Spider is No. 84 on the RER 100.