The structure of the bridge, inaugurated in 1955, suffered in 2022 the impact of a barge, which has hampered the activity of the port of Brussels and caused significant economic losses in the area.
Sarens has been responsible for the logistical tasks necessary for the installation of the bridge, once repaired, thanks to the use of its Karel-Viktor barge, various SPMT units and its jacking system for lifting the structure to its final location.
Sarens, world leader in heavy lifting, engineered transport and crane rental services, together with HYE and with the assistance of the operational teams of the Port of Brussels, has completed the logistical tasks of transport and installation of the Buda Bridge, which has already recovered both road and waterway traffic in the channel.
This bridge, one of the main traffic arteries around the Port of Brussels and of capital importance for the transport of the Belgian capital, Antwerp and Charleroi, suffered at the end of 2022 the impact of a barge that seriously damaged its structure, which led to the immediate closure of the bridge and the road and water traffic around it due to the danger of collapse, and to the start of consolidation and repair works, which have been extended until now.
With a total height of 43 meters and a roadway that can be raised to 33 meters to facilitate the transit of boats transiting the Willebroek Canal of the Belgian capital, this bridge was inaugurated in 1955, replacing the original 1934 bridge that was destroyed during World War II.
Repair work began in January 2023 with the removal of the bridge deck for repair. Once this restoration was completed, Sarens and HYE, with the assistance of the Port of Brussels, were in charge of transporting the new structure, measuring 40x14 m and weighing 290 tons. For this purpose, Sarens used its twin barge Karel-Viktor, a 61.5 x 22.8 x 4.5 m unit, to transport the new bridge from HYE's facilities in Zwijndrecht, south of Antwerp, to its current location.
In addition, Sarens used SPMTs (Self-Propelled Modular Transports) for the movements of the structure on land, and its jacking system, which facilitated the task of lifting the bridge and placing it in its final location.
Due to the historical importance of the bridge, the Brussels Port Authority decided to undertake a thorough restoration work which, although it has taken a long time, has kept the original design of the bridge intact. In fact, more than three thousand rivets have been replaced one by one to preserve the original image. To ensure the longevity of the repair, the bridge deck has been restored using contemporary techniques so that it can withstand road traffic without damage. In addition, all the machinery has been inspected, refurbished and adapted to the new bridge deck.
Over the past few years, Sarens has established itself as a strategic player in similar projects. Recently the company has completed the renovation works of the century-old Colbert bridge in Dieppe (France), and other 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 center using the "floatover" method.