Project Snapshop
Project: Bay Bridge Tower Base Lowering
Location: San Francisco Bay, California
Application: Controlled lowering of a concrete bridge tower foundation
Challenge: Lower a 3,500-ton base approximately 28 feet to the bottom of the bay
Solution: A multi-point hydraulic jacking system using 500-ton jacks and threaded rods
Result: Tower base lowered 28 feet into position
The new Bay Bridge tower required a massive concrete base to be positioned at the bottom of San Francisco Bay. Weighing approximately 3,500 tons—or seven million pounds—the structure had to be lowered 28 feet while remaining level and controlled throughout the operation.
CH Bull worked with the project’s design engineers to develop and supply the hydraulic jacking system used to complete the lowering process.
The Challenge
The size and weight of the tower base left little room for uneven movement. Each corner had to descend at a controlled rate so the structure remained balanced as it moved toward the bay floor.
The system also needed to operate around the threaded rods connected to the base and provide the contractor with a reliable way to monitor and manage the load at multiple points.
Engineering the Jacking System
CH Bull developed a system using 500-ton hydraulic jacks positioned around the tower base. Threaded rods connected the jacking equipment to the structure and guided the base throughout the lowering operation.
A three-point control arrangement helped distribute the load evenly across the jack groups. Two sets of jacks were connected to a single manifold port, allowing the contractor to maintain balanced movement as the structure descended.
The CH Bull Solution
The jacks were arranged at the corners of the 3,500-ton base to provide controlled support throughout the operation. The hydraulic system allowed the project team to lower the structure gradually while maintaining alignment across the different lifting points.
Close-up views of the installation show how the jacks, support steel, and threaded rods worked together to control the movement of the base.
Project Outcome
The multi-point jacking system lowered the 3,500-ton base approximately 28 feet to the bottom of San Francisco Bay. Once the structure was in position, it was filled with an additional 3,500 tons of concrete to complete the foundation.
The project demonstrated CH Bull’s ability to support high-profile infrastructure work with hydraulic equipment and system configurations developed for complex, heavy-load applications.
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