The contractor, Dufferin Construction, called on Sarens' expertise to carry out the replacing of the Box Culvert on the Wonderland Road Exit Ramp.
These widening works are part of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation's initiative to reduce traffic on one of London's main arteries.
Sarens, world leader in heavy lifting, engineered transport and crane rental, has been actively involved in the widening and improvement works being carried out on Highway 402 in London, Ontario. This highway is one of the main traffic arteries in the region, connecting the Blue Water Bridge international crossing near Sarnia to Highway 401 in London.
Dufferin Construction, the main contractor for these works, called on Sarens' expertise to work on the construction of the Exit Ramp at Wonderland Road. On this occasion, the Sarens engineering team was responsible for the replacement of the 77,100lb (35 tons), 117ft (35.6 meter) long Box Culvert, on which the Exit Ramp sits.
For this job, Sarens chose a Liebherr LTM 1500 8.1 crane unit with Y-Guy and 363,000 lbs (161.6 tons) of counterweight. To ensure proper performance and safe operation, it was necessary to build a crane pad to support the weight and size of the crane, as the space available on the ramp was not sufficient once the unit deployed its outriggers.
For this operation, Sarens worked closely with the Dufferin Construction team, as their initial plans were to use a smaller crane unit that could work in two different setup areas. However, dewatering problems forced a change of plans, which the Sarens engineering team was able to overcome without any problems. Similarly, the consistency of the soft, wet ground also posed a challenge for the team, which needed to prepare ground protection.
According to Rob McFarlane, Sarens' Project Manager, "This project has once again tested our responsiveness. However, having one of the most comprehensive crane fleets in the world and international experience of similar projects has allowed us to anticipate our client's needs to ensure that the project does not accumulate delays that could be detrimental to their interests and those of the people of London”.
This widening work is part of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation's initiative to reduce traffic on one of London's main arteries. In total, it is estimated that 2023 will end with a total investment of more than $200 million in renovation and construction of new infrastructure to cope with the significant population growth in the area. This plan includes the construction of 80 km of roadway, the creation or replacement of 20 km of sanitary and storm sewers, the reconstruction of 12 km of water main and the construction of 25 intersections.
Sarens owns extensive experience in the Canadian construction industry as well as other similar complex projects. The company was recently able to work on the renovation of Union Station, where its engineering team worked on the lifting and subsequent installation of several iron girders, weighing approximately 9.4 tons, for the flying garden that connects the station's north and south towers. In addition, other projects, such as the refurbishment of the Lafarge cement factory in Bath, have contributed to increasing annual cement production and boosted the country's construction sector, attesting to Sarens' expertise within the industry as one of the world's leading players.
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/