🏗 Bragg Crane Powers Wind Future at Gonzaga Ridge Wind Project

Clint Wood
2 days ago
3 min read

Heavy Haul & Lift Expertise Brings New Life to Pacheco’s Wind Farm

Nestled in the rolling hills of Pacheco State Park, the Gonzaga Ridge Wind Project is redefining clean energy in California—thanks in large part to the expertise of Bragg Companies, whose heavy haul and lifting services were instrumental in executing this high-profile repower.

Bragg Crane Powers Wind Future at Gonzaga Ridge Wind Project

🚛 Transporting the Impossible: Laydown Yard Logistics

The project involves decommissioning 162 aging turbines from the 1980s and installing 40 new state-of-the-art wind turbines, each significantly larger in size and complexity. Bragg Crane’s Transport Division was responsible for coordinating and executing the delivery of all windmill components, including:

Blades exceeding 200 ft in length
Tower sections measuring over 80 tons per unit
Nacelles and hubs, some weighing over 100 tons

These components were hauled from Port Hueneme and other inland staging areas through challenging rural terrain to a custom-built laydown yard within the park boundary.

With meticulous route planning and CHP escort coordination, Bragg Crane’s transport team navigated narrow switchbacks, sharp elevation changes, and sensitive environmental zones—all without a single incident. Multiple haul configurations were used, including dual-lane trailers, steerable blade dollies, and modular Goldhofer systems.

🏗 Setting the Standard: Heavy Lifts on Sensitive Ground

On-site, Bragg Crane is deploying its specialized heavy lift equipment to tackle the vertical build of each turbine. Based on the size of the turbines and the known logistics challenges at Pacheco State Park, it’s likely that Bragg Crane deployed high-capacity crawler cranes such as the LR 1600/2 or CC 3800, commonly used in wind turbine erection projects of this scale.

130-meter (426 ft) hub heights
Wind speeds managed under strict tolerances
Multi-phase lifting for tower sections, nacelles, and blades

Given that the project is located on California Department of Parks and Recreation land, Bragg’s lift planning team is working closely with state officials, environmental consultants, and engineers to design matting and outrigger systems that preserved soil and habitat integrity.

🔋 Supporting a Historic Repower Effort

Led by Scout Clean Energy and supported by Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, the Gonzaga Ridge repower increases total generation capacity from 16 MW to 147.5 MW, and includes a 50 MW/200 MWh battery storage system.

This is more than a wind upgrade—it’s a full system transformation requiring seamless logistics, deep technical expertise, and zero margin for error.

Bragg Crane’s role touched nearly every physical aspect of the build:

Pre-project site visits and feasibility studies
Permit acquisition and route survey support
Component staging and laydown yard coordination
Crane mobilization, rigging operations, and safety oversight

🌿 Bridging Technology and Terrain

Working on state-protected land added additional layers of operational complexity. Bragg Crane adapted by:

Scheduling lifts around protected species zones
Using low-ground-pressure equipment to protect terrain
Coordinating with wildlife and habitat monitors daily

The company’s ability to adapt its transport and crane strategy to environmentally sensitive ground helped maintain both the project timeline and conservation goals.

🔧 Bragg Crane’s Lasting Impact

The Gonzaga Ridge Wind Project is now on track to power over 120,000 California homes, while preventing over 590,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually. Bragg Crane’s contribution to this milestone reinforces its position as a go-to partner for renewable infrastructure delivery—from port to pad.

This project exemplifies what Bragg does best—safely moving and lifting the components that power tomorrow’s grid, even in the most challenging terrain.