Against the backdrop of central Paris, a Liebherr MK 88-4.1 mobile construction crane operated by the Ponticelli group of companies has repaired a historic bridge and reinstalled a damaged section of artwork on the Pont-Neuf.
The work involved the temporary art installation "La Caverne du Pont-Neuf," created by French artist JR. The piece was conceived as a tribute to the legendary wrapping of the Pont-Neuf by artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, first installed in 1985. The inflatable structure is approximately 120 metres long.
Storm damage and a rapid response
In early June, violent gusts of wind and hail damaged parts of the installation's outer shell. Just a few hours later, Ponticelli, a French lifting and industrial services company, developed a creative lifting solution.
"We were on site just a few hours after the damage occurred to work out the best technical solution together with the client," said Louis-Arthur de Quatrebarbes, head of the handling and lifting agency at Ponticelli. "As well as repairing the tarpaulin, we had to carry out a lifting operation safely in almost constant wind and under considerable time pressure."
Working within a confined heritage site
As the oldest bridge in Paris, the Pont-Neuf offers limited space for work and welcomes a large number of daily visitors. Load-distribution plates reduced ground pressure, while safety and traffic management measures ensured the operation could be carried out safely.
The team had originally planned to use a larger Liebherr mobile crane. Because of the tight conditions, the Liebherr MK 88-4.1 was brought in instead. Its 45-metre-long trolley jib reached all the damaged areas of the structure, while the four-axle design enabled easy relocation from one side of the bridge to the other, where there was also storm damage. The short set-up time and compact outrigger system further facilitated the operation.
The crane cab offered an additional benefit: it could move at working height, giving the operator a clear view of the approximately 18-metre-high structure and the rope access technicians. Boom-mounted spotlights ensured optimal illumination of the work area during night-time operations.
Repairs completed over four night shifts
The repair work was carried out over four night shifts. Damaged fabric sections weighing between 200 and 400 kilograms were lifted and reattached in collaboration with rope access technicians. Because the construction site was located in a wind corridor along the River Seine, weather conditions were continuously monitored, and communication between the crane operator and the rope access technicians took place continuously via radio.
Before work began, the team performed site inspections, load calculations, and collision analyses of the surrounding buildings. A 360-degree test subsequently confirmed the planned crane positioning.
More than a conventional lifting operation
For Ponticelli, the project was far more than a standard lifting job. "We are proud to have been part of this work of art," de Quatrebarbes said, quoting JR: "The installation of the artwork is part of the artwork" — and so is the crane. He described the visually striking deployment of the MK crane as creating a magical moment.
With its deployment on the Pont-Neuf, the company said, the Liebherr MK 88-4.1 demonstrated its strengths in demanding inner-city projects. Where heritage conservation, confined spaces, and a high level of precision come together, the mobile construction crane offers a combination of reach, compactness, and flexibility.