Barnhart was hired to replace two miter gates at a lock and dam in Kentucky. The job required Barnhart to bring in Big Al, a super-capacity barge-mounted heavy lift crane based on the Gulf Coast, which is able to lift loads of over 400 tons.
arnhart mobilized Big Al, traveling up the Tombigbee/Tennessee River via tug to Paducah, Kentucky and then further up the Ohio River. The trip took 13 days to complete. At the site, the new 468,000 lb. gates had been delivered by deck barge.
The team put Big Al to work, using Barnhart's adjustable rigging link system and specialized turning shoes to lift the gates from horizontal to a vertical position.
The gates were then set at a 135 ft. radius. Big Al was demobilized and made the return trip down river back to the Gulf. The job was completed safely and ahead of schedule.