Two HP 5000 hammers demolish a dam in the Rocky Mountains

The demolition of the LaPrele dam in Douglas, Wyoming, is one of the largest and most complex demolition projects in the Rocky Mountains. The dam, which is 42 metres high and 100 metres long, will produce more than 10,000 tonnes of concrete rubble. The project, which has been awarded to a joint venture between Big Sky Civil Constructors and Montana Civil Contractors, will entail the use of two HP 5000 hammers (HP 3000 for the European market) mounted on two Komatsu PC490-11 and PC800-8 Ultra High Reach demolition excavators. Both the machines and the hammers are supplied by Mike Beeler Equipment Services of Williamstown, New Jersey, a first-class Indeco rental and service centre since 2020. The dam, built in 1909, was declared unsafe and slated for emergency demolition by the local government in 2024. 

The project will encounter some unprecedented environmental and economic challenges. Deterioration of the dam and its total risk of collapse posed a major threat to local farms and infrastructures. The framework of the project was outlined in September 2024 when the LaPrele irrigation district ordered the drainage of the reservoir to avoid a catastrophic failure. The LaPrele reservoir serves over 100 irrigators, including many cattle breeders and farmers who rely on the water for their livestock. Draining the reservoir and demolishing the dam will reduce the water supply for up to 4 years. 

With so many people relying on this water, time is absolutely crucial for the success of the project. Therefore, choosing Indeco machinery is an obvious decision because of its unrivalled performance and capabilities.

“Indeco hammers completely outperform those of other manufacturers, not only due to their performance but also because they are easy to use. – says Cody Barone, High Reach Operator for Montana Civil Contractors – Other hammers are not even comparable to Indeco ones. The 85 MPa reinforced concrete was impossible to demolish with other tools, but it just crumbles under the power of Indeco hammers. We work 11 hours a day, 7 days a week, and not once have we had a breakdown. It is by far the best hammer I have ever used.”