Vice Construction boosts power work with new Grove GMK5250XL-1

Nearly half a century after Hurricane Frederic devastated the Gulf Coast, Mississippi, USA-based Vice Construction is still keeping the lights on, and now it’s doing so with a powerful new addition to its lifting fleet.

The company purchased the pre-owned crane to support its work at substation and transmission projects along the Gulf Coast.

Founded by Diane and Jimmy Vice in 1979 to support power restoration efforts in the aftermath of the Category 4 storm, the Moss Point company has spent 46 years enabling power transmission across the region. Today, with the second generation, Lee and Jereamy Vice, now in leadership roles, the family-owned contractor continues to tackle complex infrastructure work in challenging environments.

Vice Construction recently added a certified pre-owned Grove GMK5250XL-1 all-terrain crane from Jeff Martin Auctioneers. Since joining the fleet, the 300 USt machine has already supported several critical projects, including lifting heavy 75 US-ton transformers inside a live substation, placing rail engines for a Mississippi railroad, and removing and replacing 100-foot transmission poles over live powerlines.

“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, 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 GMK5250XL-1 brings significant performance gains over the company’s previous Grove model. With a 257.5-foot eight-section main boom, 58.4-foot swingaway jib and a VIAB turbo retarder clutch for wear-free starting and braking, the crane combines reach, control and mobility. Its single-engine design reduces fuel consumption, and it can travel around the jobsite with its full 88.15 US-ton counterweight on board, eliminating the need to reconfigure for multiple lifts.