In 1942, Loyalhanna Dam went into operation while Pittsburgh factories produced wartime steel and the army relied on 54,000 pigeons. 84 years later, the dam has prevented more than $658 million in flood damage and its cranes are getting a major overhaul

Two 64-ton cranes at Loyalhanna Dam are receiving a major overhaul after eight decades of service. These aging machines manage massive steel gates for flood control in Westmoreland County. The rehabilitation addresses lead paint, asbestos, and outdated electrical systems on the cranes. Pigeons nesting in the machinery presented an unexpected challenge for the repair crews.