[zilebune]

Also using an alternative line an abrasive cable would not make sense either. If friction causes it to tear it would need complete replacing, which would be plenty $$$.

Instead, with a chain they just replace a couple of broken links and back on track. Which is apparently what they've done:

> Unfortunately, the chain actually broke during the cutting operation. “Approximately 25 hours into the cut, the cutting chain broke,” St. Simons Incident Response writes on its website. Luckily, there were no injuries and there was no damage to the equipment. The team simply fixed the chain’s broken link, inspected the other links for signs of fatigue, and continued on.

[DoofusOfDeath]

I'm guessing that another advantage of chain instead of cable is what happens if it breaks.

IIUC, it's much less dangerous to be around a breaking chain than a snapping cable.

[rags2riches]

A chain is never harder to repair than its weakest link, I guess.