The company has extensive experience in similar works, including the installation of the OA14 bridge in Bettembourg, or an 8,400 tons railway bridge on the A1 motorway in Amsterdam (Netherlands).
Built in 1960, this bridge, key to mobility in Luxembourg, was in an advanced state of deterioration, which led to its complete renovation.
To avoid traffic congestion on the only alternative route to the A7/B7 freeway near Colmar-Berg, a 45-meter-long temporary bridge was erected, thus minimizing the impact of the works on the surrounding area.
Sarens was responsible for the new bridge using 32 axle lines SPMT (self-propelled modular transports) and its CS250 climbing system on one side of the railway, and a LR11000 crawler crane and another CS250 system on the other side.
Sarens, world leader in heavy lifting, engineered transport and crane rental, has been directly involved in the reconstruction works of the railway bridge in Colmar-Berg, in the Luxembourg municipality of Schieren, contributing with its international expertise to reduce the overall impact on traffic and optimizing the entire logistics operation to the maximum.
This bridge, originally built in 1960, has since been considered one of the most remarkable works in Luxembourg, especially for its contribution to traffic, being the only alternative route to the A7/B7 freeway around Colmar-Berg. Built in prestressed concrete with closed caissons with intermediate elastic supports, its complex supporting structure has suffered significant wear and tear over the years, leading to various reinforcement works on the deck and abutments. However, a recent periodic inspection revealed structural defects that necessitated the reconstruction of the entire structure.
Due to the constraints of the bridge's location, only a new structure with lateral support was possible. In fact, the studies carried out by the Luxembourg Bridge and Road Administration only recommended a bowstring-type solution, which integrates perfectly into this environment. This new 700-tonne structure, once built on the Techno Métal Industrie site, had to be installed as quickly as possible to replace the previous structure.
The Sarens engineering team, operating appointed by Techno Métal Industrie, faced the challenge of installing a bridge weighing more than 700 tons without ever crossing the railroad lines running underneath, and without displacing the track or overhead lines, so all the work had to be transported and lifted from the sides of the railway.
For this job, Sarens used 32 axle lines SPMTs and its CS250 climbing system -a complex system designed to facilitate lifting bridges into position- on each side of the highway, plus an LR11000 crawler crane with a 66-meter main boom and 430-ton superlift configuration at one end.
The operation began with the offload and transport of the bridge using two SPMTs to bring the structure to the surroundings of the crane, and then transferring a quarter of the structure's weight to the crane, for which one of the SPMTs was removed. Then, the remaining SPMT was placed in such a way that it was possible to share the weight between this device and the crane by 50%, moving the structure to its final location. Finally, the bridge was set down onto the CS250 climbing system and jacked down to the correct height.
According to Peter Keyen, Sarens Project Manager, "I want to thank Techno Métal Industrie for their confidence in our team, based on the extensive experience we have accumulated throughout our history in the installation of bridges. It is precisely this experience and the availability of the right machinery that has enabled us to propose the technical solutions needed to reduce the impact of our operations on traffic and the environment".
Over the past few years, Sarens has established itself as a strategic player in similar projects and in the international rail sector. Recently the company worked on the installation of the OA14 bridge, with a total weight of 5,850 tons, in Bettembourg. Sarens also completed the work on the installation of a new pedestrian bridge between the Hazebrouck railway station (France) and its car park, the installation of an 8,400 tons railway bridge on the A1 motorway in Amsterdam (Netherlands), or on the replacement of a railway bridge in the city center of Stockholm (Sweden) using the "floatover" method, among other major projects.
About Sarens
Sarens is the global leader and reference in crane rental, heavy lift and engineered transportation services. With state-of-the-art equipment, value engineering, one of the world's largest inventories of cranes, transporters and special rigging equipment, Sarens offers creative and intelligent solutions to today's heavy lifting and engineering transport challenges.
With more than 100 entities in 65 countries operating without borders, Sarens is an ideal partner for small to large-scale projects. Sarens currently employs 4,543 highly qualified professionals who are ready to serve the needs of any client worldwide and in all market sectors. https://www.sarens.com/