The nonstop pace of demolition, debris removal and site stabilization at Manhattan's World Trade Center complex has certainly taken its toll on construction workers. But the cleanup's six-month, 24/7 operation also has not been kind to equipment.
Keeping the huge array of machines operating–let alone operating at peak performance–hasn't been easy for fleet owners, renters and maintenance crews. The demanding schedule and extraordinary conditions on the 16-acre site have stretched the limit of equipment endurance and repair, but managers say the experience has already provided valuable lessons that may help reduce costs on projects with less harrowing circumstances.