Slingmax Rigging Solutions Supports South Creek Road Bridge Replacement

chadds ford bridge project

April 4, 2025

The South Creek Road Bridge Replacement is an infrastructure project designed to boost transportation and improve safety across Chester and Delaware Counties in the Greater Philadelphia Area. A critical moment in the project came with the installation of massive precast concrete arch sections over the Brandywine Creek and East Penn Railroad, demanding precision and flawless execution. Slingmax Rigging Solutions was key to the operation’s success, supplying Twin-Path® slings and Synthetic Equalizer Blocks (SEB) to ensure stability, safety, and efficiency throughout the lifting process.

Located on the boundary between Pennsbury Township and Chadds Ford Township, just 1.3 miles north of the Pennsylvania state border with Delaware, the project involves replacing the aging six-span concrete arch bridge that carries two lanes of South Creek Road over the Brandywine Creek and East Penn Railroad. Originally constructed in 1925, the existing bridge had developed structural deficiencies, leading to weight restrictions. The new structure will maintain the bridge’s six-span concrete arch design while improving load capacity, approach roadways, guide rails, and signage. Our team worked alongside Haines & Kibblehouse, Inc. (H&K Group) to supply equipment capable of handling the bridge’s 26-ton precast concrete arch sections.

chadds ford twin path equalizer beam

 

Twin-Path Slings: Strength and Reliability

Slingmax Twin-Path Slings were chosen for their ability to handle high-capacity loads while remaining

 lightweight and flexible. These slings provided:

  • A high strength-to-weight ratio, making them easier to handle compared to steel slings.
  • K-Spec® core yarn, ensuring durability and minimal elongation under heavy loads.
  • Check-Fast® Inspection System, allowing for quick and simple safety verification before each lift.
  • Covermax® protection, offering superior abrasion resistance for longer sling life.

By utilizing Twin-Path slings, the project team was able to safely and efficiently maneuver the bridge components into place.

Equalizer Blocks: Maintaining Load Balance

To ensure even weight distribution across multiple sling legs, SEBs were used during the lift. These blocks played a vital role in:

  • Automatically adjusting sling tension to prevent uneven loading.
  • Providing greater control during lifts, ensuring precise placement of bridge sections.
  • Enhancing safety by reducing stress on individual sling legs, preventing potential failures.

The patented SEB is the only rolling block for synthetic slings on the market, and was designed specifically to fit Twin-Path roundslings, allowing for a stable and balanced lift. With the combination of Twin-Path® slings and SEBs, the rigging team successfully executed complex lifts over both the Brandywine Creek and East Penn Railroad, keeping the project on track and ahead of schedule.

The Impact of Slingmax’s Expertise

The South Creek Road Bridge Replacement is an example of how advanced rigging solutions contribute to modern infrastructure projects. The expertise of the Slingmax team, combined with cutting-edge sling and load distribution technology, played a key role in ensuring that the lifting process was efficient, safe, and precise.

For more information on Slingmax Twin-Path slings and Synthetic Equalizer Blocks, visit Slingmax.com.