Number of cranes in Phoenix stays steady
Report tracks use of construction towers
The number of cranes throughout Phoenix has remained steady since last year, according to the most recent Rider Levett Bucknall Crane Index.
The Rider Levett Bucknall’s Crane Index for North America is a biannual report that tracks the number of operating tower cranes in 14 major cities across the U.S. and Canada.
The report concluded that the county at large has seen a 9% decrease in cranes since they conducted the latest study in 2023, except for Phoenix, Honolulu, Seattle, and Toronto, which are holding steady in their crane counts as of April 2, 2024.
Currently, there are seven cranes in the city skyline, according to city officials, which is a result of the demand for residential and mixed-use buildings. Rider Levett Bucknall’s Crane Index reported the city is currently adding two new high-rise, mixed-use residential projects now under construction, according to the Rider Levett Bucknall’s Crane Index.
The report highlighted that one of the reasons there are still many cranes in Phoenix is because of delays and pauses in construction projects. For instance, a high-rise apartment project was paused several months ago and has yet to resume, despite the crane remaining in place.
Another project involving a crane in the city is a parking garage that is under construction to support increased parking demand in the downtown Phoenix area.
Not only can cranes be eyesores, but they can also cause fear for residents who have to walk underneath them.
“I come to the city every day for work, and it is spooky having to walk underneath the cranes,” Jake Cater, a Phoenix resident, said about the seven cranes throughout the city.
Carter is not alone, as cranes can pose a great risk to pedestrians, cyclists, and even workers. According to the most recent analysis on crane accidents by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average of 44 people die in crane-related accidents in the U.S. each year.
According to the city’s official newsroom, in January 2020, there were a total of 14 cranes over the city, with nine more planned to go up.
Despite experiencing a decrease in cranes over the past four years, the city may soon see an increase, with their reach extending beyond the Phoenix skyline.
Tempe approved a $1.8-billion South Pier Project that plans to build over 2,000 apartments, retail offices, hotels and even a Ferris wheel located on the last development parcel of Tempe Town Lake, on the south shore near Rural Road.
Although the plan was approved in February 2022, the end of construction is not estimated to be completed until 2026, which means many more cranes are likely in the Valley’s future.