Lattice Tower Upgrades at Hoover Dam | Nevada-Arizona Border
Project Description:
This tower is located adjacent to Hoover Dam and provides cell coverage for this area. To improve cell coverage at this location, a cell carrier contacted SBA Communications with a request to collocate an additional 18 panel antennas on the structure at 212 feet and an additional 12 antennas at 245 feet. SBA Communications evaluated the structure with proposed loading and determined the tower was structurally insufficient for the new antennas. Given Hoover Dam’s status as National Critical Infrastructure and increased security measures, a limited construction window was granted that required a solution providing expedient installation with minimal carrier disruption. This project focused on providing a turn-key solution for the modification and placement of new antennas and equipment to support the cell carrier’s effort to provide improved cell coverage in the area.
Aero Solutions Role:
Aero Solutions provided a turn-key solution using non-welded reinforcing elements to bring the tower into compliance with the new antenna loading. An engineered bolt-on solution was developed to reinforce the tower at elevations of 0-50 feet, 143 feet, 183 feet, 199 feet and 213 feet. Aero’s modification was completely non-welded, eliminating any risk of fire and increasing the safety at this sensitive site. Upon completion of the modification, the tower overstress ratios were lowered to below 100 percent.
Technical Description:
Tower Type: Four-sided self support
Height: 265 feet
Modification Date: 2006
Client: AAT Communications [ Tower now owned by SBA Communications ]
