Ep 6. The Big Rig

Mega Builders follows the groundbreaking projects that elite construction firms and their fearless leaders take on across the globe. In season 4, episode 6 titled "The Big Rig," viewers are taken to the heart of the Alberta oil sands in Canada for one of the biggest and most intricate heavy-lift operations ever attempted.

At the heart of this episode is a project undertaken by construction heavyweight Mammoet. Their mission is to transport a massive, fully-constructed and operational 8,500-ton oil sands mining dredger, appropriately nicknamed "The Big Rig," from a fabrication plant to its destination six miles away. The journey will take 12 days, during which the dredger will need to be lifted, dragged, and rotated around hairpin turns, up steep inclines, and on makeshift roads that weren't designed to support such weight. It's a monumental task that involves some of the most complicated engineering feats seen on the show to-date, and the stakes couldn't be higher.

The episode kicks off with a behind-the-scenes look at the mammoth undertaking, complete with interviews with key team members who explain the intricacies of the project. We learn that Mammoet had to design an entirely new type of self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) to move the Big Rig. These 160-wheel behemoths are specially designed for transporting objects weighing hundreds and even thousands of tons, but the Big Rig is a different beast altogether.

The first leg of the journey involves getting the Big Rig out of the fabrication plant, and this is a delicate process that requires the SPMTs to move in perfect synchronization to keep everything stable. The roads surrounding the plant weren't designed to support such weight, so the team had to lay down bespoke steel plate tracks that could handle the load. These were welded together to form one continuous track, which was then greased to reduce friction, allowing the SPMTs to move with minimal effort.

Once the Big Rig is in the clear, the real challenge begins. The route planned by Mammoet involves navigating winding roads and steep inclines, and at times the SPMTs need to move off-road over makeshift routes that had to be built from scratch. This involves using bulldozers and excavators to clear paths through the woodland and scrub, with some trees having trunks so thick they need to be cut down in advance.

The team faces countless obstacles in getting the Big Rig to its destination, from sharp angles in the turns to narrow bridges that require the SPMTs to be precisely positioned before crossing. There's even a section dubbed "nightmare corner," which offers no room for error whatsoever. The slightest miscalculation could have catastrophic consequences, and the team must use all their expertise and experience to adapt to each new obstacle as it arises.

Throughout the episode, we see the team working long hours, even in the coldest temps Canada can dish out. Time and again, they work under pressure to coordinate their moves and make split-second decisions. It's a tense and occasionally suspenseful experience, with some heart-stopping moments thrown in for good measure.

Overall, "The Big Rig" is a fascinating insight into how modern engineering can tackle challenges that previously seemed impossible. The Mammoet team doesn't just transport The Big Rig, they change the game by innovating hardware and thinking out of the box. Those who enjoy seeing true engineering feats will appreciate the drama, tension, and excitement that Mega Builders Season 4 Episode 6 delivers.