A Terex AC 40 City crane replaces the famous Virgin Record Store neon sign with a new sign for a clothing store on Times Square.

North Shore Crane has supplied a Terex AC 40 City crane to replace the famous Virgin Record Store neon sign with a new sign for the flagship store of the Forever 21 clothing chain on Times Square.

As Times Square is one of New York City's main attractions with busy traffic, the city's Department of Transportation only permitted two, 11-foot wide lane closures, leaving limited access to the site and a tight overnight schedule for the sign installation.

The huge stainless steel and neon tube light set-up for Virgin Record Store was first removed before the new sign elements were installed. The latter comprised of giant LED screens, letters with flashing LEDS, a special canopy with more LED screens and a border that changes colour with the screen content.

To install the sign, the AC 40 City was driven straight into the site, making tight turns against the high curbs and worked rapidly, performing lifts of up to 5,600lbs (2,540kg) at 70-foot (21.3 metre) radius and 102-foot (31 metre) maximum boom length.

"Offering (more) compact size and better over-the-road speed compared to other cherry-picker models, the Terex AC 40 City meant that we could perform lifts efficiently, manoeuvre safely and save time by bringing the crane directly to the job site without special permits," says Alex Robson, North Shore Crane's project manager.

The Terex AC 40 City crane can lift up to 44 tons and offers a 31.2 metre (102 foot) maximum boom length for a 44.metre (145 foot) maximum tip height.