The new bridge, which aims to provide benefits for communities on both sides of the Clyde, is jointly funded by the UK and Scottish Governments through the £1.13bn Glasgow City Region City Deal.
The bridge is due to be completed ahead of schedule and be fully operational for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists in Autumn 2024.
Sarens had to transport the south and north sections from Europe and installed them in Renfrew, near Glasgow deploying the Caroline barge 122 metres long and a wide range of advanced equipment.
The first opening road bridge across the River Clyde is a step closer to completion as the two sections of the Renfrew Bridge arrived on site. Sarens transported and installed them to progress with the works on the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside Swing Bridge project.
Last July the Renfrew Bridge was linked up for the first time and was successfully tested. The operational testing of the bridge is ongoing by contractors Graham and HIJV (Hollandia Infra-Iemants Joint Venture) and works will continue ahead of the official opening later this year. The bridge is due to be completed ahead of schedule and be fully operational for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists in Autumn 2024.
Sarens, world leader in heavy lifting, engineered transport and crane rental services, was contracted by Smulders and played a crucial role in the transport and installation of the two bridge sections, each weighing approximately 1,600 tonnes and measuring 92 metres long, 18 metres wide, and 38 metres high. The south bridge was constructed by Hollandia Infra in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The north bridge was constructed by Smulders in Flushing, Netherlands. Both bridge sections had to be transported and installed in Glasgow, UK.
To undertake this crucial project, Sarens team studied the site conditions in Rotterdam, Flushing, and Glasgow, deciding to deploy the Sarens barge Caroline, 26 ballast pumps (600T/h) and 6 hydraulic winches (50T). For the installation it was also necessary to use the Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) in various configurations (6x10 axle-lines, 2x16 axle-lines, 2x12 axle-lines) and RoRo ramps of 2.75m, 5.8m, and 9m.
Some equipment was shipped on the barge, while the rest was transported by road. Each bridge section weighed about 1600 tons and measured 92m in length, 18m in width, and 38m in height. Due to site-specific requirements, like ground pressure or space limitations in Rotterdam and Flushing, different SPMT configurations were used.
The south bridge in Rotterdam was transported to the quayside using six 10-axle SPMTs, lifted by three shearlegs, and loaded onto Sarens' barge Caroline. After securing the load, the barge was towed to Glasgow, where pre-assembled SPMTs were used to move the bridge to its final position on temporary jacks. The north bridge in Flushing, Netherlands, followed a slightly different process. It was transported to the quayside using 32-axle SPMTs, driven onto the barge during a load-out operation, and transported to Glasgow. The installation sequence in Glasgow mirrored that of the south bridge.
The project involved a numerous crew of 14 Sarens personnel, working in double shifts to minimise the barge's presence in the river navigation channel in Glasgow. Due to limited water depth, a ramp structure on piles bridged the gap between the barge and quay, with the longest gap being around 18 metres.
The two-lane road bridge across the River Clyde spans 184-metres from Renfrew to the boundary between Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire. Communities in Renfrew, Clydebank, Yoker and the wider city region will be better connected to their places of work and to local hospitals, education centres and leisure opportunities close to the Clyde waterfront.
The new bridge will aim to provide benefits for communities on both sides of the Clyde improving transport connections, both to and along the Clyde and is the opportunity to significantly increase the level of activity on the river itself. The new routes will reduce congestion and shorten journey times, improving public transport reliability.
The project forms part of Renfrewshire Council’s Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside (CWRR) scheme. Thousands of jobs will be, and have been, created through the CWRR project, as well as the opportunity for new homes and investment on the riverside and access to health and leisure for communities on both sides of the river. The project is jointly funded by the UK and Scottish Governments through the £1.13bn Glasgow City Region City Deal.
According to Sarens Project Manager, Kenny Decoster, “The Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside swing bridge will significantly improve connectivity in the region and reflect the historic significance of the Clyde's maritime industry. Sarens is very proud to be involved in this landmark project.”
Flowing through the Glasgow area, the River Clyde in Scotland is the eighth longest river in the UK at about 106 miles (170 km) in length. The regeneration of the Clyde is of significance at both a national and local level. It represents ambitious plans to regenerate some 30 kilometres of waterfront. These plans are now being implemented, with several major developments now completed and many more on site or proposed.
Over the past few years, Sarens has established itself as a strategic player in similar projects. 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 another 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. One of the very last bridge projects took place in Dieppe, in the north-west of France, where they lifted and transported the century-old Colbert Bridge, classified as a historic monument, for a renovation that will leave it as good as new after 135 years.
About Sarens
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With more than 100 entities in 66 countries operating without borders, Sarens is an ideal partner for small to large-scale projects. Sarens currently employs 5,000 highly qualified professionals who are ready to serve the needs of any client worldwide and in all market sectors. https://www.sarens.com/