Prior to its opening, scheduled for late 2026, the project's environmental impact will be reduced by planting three trees for every one that had to be removed for its development.
Sarens has been working on behalf of Niagara Rigging to transport and place the eight support girders for the bridge, with loads of between 163 and 175 tons after a thorough engineering study to optimize the process.
The new bridge under construction over Bronte Creek, which will extend Wyecroft Road between Bronte Road and Burloak Drive, will be able to accommodate more than 4,000 vehicles per day once it opens in late 2026, providing transportation for commuters, bicyclists, pedestrians and private vehicles and helping to reduce traffic pressure on nearby roadways. In addition, as part of this project, a new water main will be installed to supply Oakville in case of need or growth in the city.
This project, which city officials say is already more than 30% complete, will have four lanes, plus multi-use lanes on both sides of the road and bike lanes on the roadway. More than two years in the making, this project is estimated to have a budget of approximately $117 million, of which more than $50 million has come from the regional government.
Sarens, world leader in heavy lifting, engineered transport and crane rental services, has worked on behalf of Niagara Rigging in the transport and subsequent placement of the eight support girders of the new West Tributary Bridge, weighing between 163 and 175 tons. To this end, its engineering team carried out a thorough preliminary study to define the appropriate machinery and setup to be used, taking into account the terrain conditions and the distance to be overcome to place the girders in their final location, which is more than 75 meters.
Once the girders were loaded at the beam manufacturer's facilities using Kamag K2400S SPMTs (self-propelled modular transports) in configurations of 2 files x 6 axle lines and 4 files x 12 axle lines, the Sarens team transported each unit to the west side piers where would later be placed. From the opposite side, a Liebherr LR1600/2 crane unit configured in SDB setup at 66 meters, working in conjunction with an LTM1500-8.1 unit in TY3 configuration, lifted each girders for later placement in their final location while the SPMTs were moved away.
To ensure that the operation was carried out to the highest safety standards, the Sarens team placed crane pads under the LR1600/2 unit to increase the stability of the crane and the correct weight distribution on the ground. In addition, it was necessary to ensure that the rigging and cable always operated vertically to prevent any possible oscillations in the load from posing a safety risk to both the operators and the infrastructure itself.
The construction project for the new West Tributary bridge and Wyecroft road extension began in 2019 with the approval of the corresponding budget. Although construction as such began in October 2023, tree clearing in the area occupied by the works took place in March of that year. However, as part of its environmental commitment, the municipal corporation will plant three trees for every one felled in the development of this important urban project.
Sarens has been a key player in the Canadian construction industry for years, thanks to the wide experience of its team, its in-depth knowledge of the sector and its extensive portfolio of cranes and modular transports. Among others, Sarens has worked on the updating of the heating, ventilation & air conditioning systems of Scarborough General Hospital or Finch West Station project -both in Toronto-, installing 30 precast ceiling panels of 3.25 tons each below ground level, and was also able to contribute to the renovation of Union Station, where the team carried out the lifting and subsequent installation of several 9.4-ton iron girders for the flying garden connecting the station's north and south towers.
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 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/