Hiring a crane in Santa Fe
Santa Fe sits about 58 miles northeast of Civic Plaza, up I-25. Crane work there runs to flat adobe roofs, courtyards and narrow old streets, and the city has its own permit rules for anything that blocks a street.
Does a crane blocking a Santa Fe street need a permit?
Yes. Santa Fe City Code section 23-1.4 requires a permit from Public Works for any obstruction of a public street, alley or way. The application needs a drawing with traffic control that meets the MUTCD and proof of $1,050,000 in general liability insurance naming the city. Review takes up to five business days and the fee is $100.
- Any street, alley or way obstruction needs a Public Works permit under City Code 23-1.4.
- The packet asks for a drawing with MUTCD traffic control and $1,050,000 in liability insurance.
- Review takes up to five business days; the fee is $100, and some jobs need a $10,000 bond.
- Metered spaces mean a call to the Parking Division about meter hoods.
The obstruction permit
Santa Fe City Code section 23-1.4 says anyone placing an obstruction on a public street, alley or way needs a permit from the Public Works Department. A crane, its outriggers and its cones count. The packet goes to the Traffic Engineering Section and asks for:
- A drawing. The proposed obstruction with all traffic control, meeting the current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- Insurance. General liability of $1,050,000 that names the City of Santa Fe.
- A bond, sometimes. Traffic Engineering decides when a $10,000 surety bond is needed.
- Parking. A call to the Parking Division about meter hoods or parking in spaces that are not otherwise allowed.
Allow up to five business days for review. If approved, the permit costs $100, and Traffic Engineering needs the Fire Marshal’s authorization before it issues one. An obstruction left in place overnight needs warning lights at both ends and every 50 feet along it.
Flat roofs, courtyards and old streets
Much of Santa Fe is low and flat-roofed, with walled courtyards and narrow streets in the older neighborhoods. That shapes the crane work:
- Rooftop units and coolers. Often set behind a parapet, so the reach is longer than it looks from the street.
- Courtyards. Hot tubs, fountains and stone go over a wall, which can mean a longer boom.
- Narrow streets. A smaller truck crane that fits the street may beat a bigger one that needs a full closure.
The drive up I-25
Santa Fe is about 58 miles from Civic Plaza in a straight line and about an hour by road. With portal to portal billing, that drive both ways comes out of the clock before any lifting. New Mexico caps a vehicle and its load at 8 feet 6 inches wide without a permit, and the crane operator needs a New Mexico license wherever the job is.
Rough costs for a Santa Fe lift
| Job | Machine | Rough bill with 10% fuel |
|---|---|---|
| Cooler on a flat roof, truck at the wall | 14.5-ton truck crane, 5 hours | $990 |
| Rooftop unit behind a parapet | 25-ton truck crane, 6 hours | $1,254 |
| Hot tub over a courtyard wall | 40-ton truck crane, 6 hours | $1,320 |
These use the published rates with extra hours for the drive. Add the $100 street permit if the crane blocks the street.
Other questions
How long does the Santa Fe street permit take?
The city says to allow up to five business days for review. If approved, you are contacted to pick up the permit and pay the $100 fee. The Traffic Engineering Section also needs the Fire Marshal's authorization before it issues the permit.
Is a crane more expensive in Santa Fe than in Albuquerque?
Usually some, because of the drive. With portal to portal billing, the trip up I-25 and back counts as crane time. On the published sheet, a 25-ton truck crane is $190 an hour, so an extra two hours of driving adds about $380 before fuel.
Can a crane work near the Plaza?
Sometimes, with a permit and a careful setup. Streets there are narrow, many spaces are metered and foot traffic is heavy, so a smaller crane and an early start are common. Send photos of the street so the operator can judge.
Where the Albuquerque numbers come from
Have this lift priced by a New Mexico operator
A rough description is plenty.
Keep reading
-
Albuquerque truck crane and stinger ratesA posted rate sheet from 14.5 to 100 tons, the 4-hour minimum, the fuel surcharge and early-start overtime.
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Lifting a swamp cooler or rooftop unit in AlbuquerqueCraning an evaporative cooler or rooftop HVAC unit in Albuquerque: stinger or truck crane, the barricade permit, spring wind, power lines and posted rates.
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Taking down a big cottonwood in Albuquerque with a craneCrane-assisted tree removal in Albuquerque: the City Forester rule for street trees, block walls and alleys, power line distance, wind and posted rates.