Vice Construction handles coastal Mississippi’s utility work with Grove GMK5250XL-1

• The company purchased the pre-owned crane to support its work at substation and transmission projects along the Gulf Coast.
• The crane's transportability was a key factor, as jobsites in the region can be tricky to access and are often waterlogged.

Hurricane Frederic struck the coast of Mississippi in 1979. The powerful category 4 hurricane caused significant damage. It was the most expensive hurricane to hit the U.S. at the time, with damages estimated at $2.3 billion. To help manage the cleanup and enable the state to rebuild its energy infrastructure, Diane and Jimmy Vice launched Vice Construction.

The company remains strong 46 years later, continuing to enable power transmission for the region. Based in Moss Point, about 30 miles west of Mobile, the company has added a new generation with Lee and Jereamy Vice joining the fold. For years, the family-owned company has enjoyed a successful relationship with Jeff Martin Auctioneers, from which it recently acquired its pre-owned Grove GMK5250XL-1.

The crane has already supported several power projects. It lifted 75 USt transformers inside a live substation and picked up rail engines for a Mississippi railroad company. It has removed 100 ft transmission poles and set new ones, lifting them over live powerlines at 30 ft - 50 ft in the air.

"We've been doing this work for nearly 50 years, and we know what kind of crane we need to get the job done efficiently," said Jimmy, vice president of Vice Construction. "We're often working in tough spots - live substations, soft ground, remote locations - and this crane handles it all. The Grove gives us the strength, control, and flexibility to keep powering Mississippi."