Sarens was responsible for the installation of the bridge, with a weight of 290 tons and 35 meters length.
The assembly process was complicated given the terrain’s orography and the limited time available for the installation, onlysix hours due to the canal’s closure.
The recent installation of the Chevêtre P1 bridge in Autreville-sur-Moselle, along the Moselle River in France, has boosted the local economy by creating jobs and supporting local industries. The bridge is expected to significantly improve mobility and road safety in the area, reducing congestion and accidents, while facilitating freight transport and promoting regional development.
Sarens, world leader in heavy lifting, engineering transport and crane rental services was commissioned by the client Baudin Chateauneuf to install the bridge in a challenging operation given the site conditions and the bridge structure itself. The Chevêtre P1 is a massive piece of infrastructure, weighing 290 tons and measuring 35 meters in length.
The operation was complex, requiring a study of the terrain and installation possibilities to determine the appropriate machinery. Sarens' advanced modular barges were used for this project, as they are designed for bridge installation, lifting operations from water, and transportation on inland waterways and seas. Sarens has an extensive fleet of mooring, auxiliary and anchor winches, various ballast systems, link bridges of various lengths and a wide range of additional structures and equipment at its disposal to offer a complete service solution.
In the specific case of this work, a barge with a load capacity of over 300 tons was used to move the bridge in its entirety and fit it between the P1 piles, aided by BE200 ballast pumps and hydraulic winches. For material movements on land, Sarens made use of its SPMT (Self Propelled Modular Transporter). Each of these pieces of equipment was selected to ensure the efficiency, safety and accuracy of the installation work.
All equipment was transported to the site by truck, and the materials for the barges were procured from two different shipyards, Ghent and Wolvertem. The mobilisation was carried out by 33 trucks and lasted one week. The assembly of the equipment, including the SMB, PMTS, winches and pumps, took two weeks, with the added difficulty of not having a dock suitable for the mobilisation of such heavy and large machinery.
The assembly of the bridge required precise planning and execution as there was only a six-hour window for completion due to the closure of the canal. Transport and loading via SPMT, as well as the installation with the barge and winches, posed significant challenges due to the confined space. The crane had to avoid high-voltage power cables. Thanks to the preliminary study, Sarens engineers successfully completed the installation work within the established plan.
Thanks to the bridge, there will be a noticeable reduction in traffic congestion. The new route will relieve pressure on existing roads. In addition, the Chevêtre P1 is designed with high safety , visibility and signalling standards, so a reduction in accidents is expected.
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 has completed several major projects, including the installation of the OA14 bridge, weighing 5,850 tons, in Bettembourg (Luxembourg). Sarens has installed a new pedestrian bridge between the Hazebrouck railway station (France) and its car park and an 8,400 ton railway bridge on the A1 motorway in Amsterdam (Netherlands). The company also replaced a railway bridge in Stockholm ‘s (Sweden) city centre using the "floatover" method.
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/