Built over the R71 ring road, the new infrastructure eliminates the need for cyclists to use long detours or at-grade crossings with traffic lights, increasing safety and helping to reduce private vehicle traffic.
The new bridge ties in with Hasselt's municipal strategy to support cycling as a means of transport, with the construction of a new cycle path around the university campus and other road infrastructure that will encourage the use of this mode of transport.
Sarens has worked on the installation of this bridge, weighing approximately 240 tons, from its loading and unloading from the barges on which it was transported to its transport by SPMTs to its installation at its final location.
The new cycle bridge installed over the Grote Ring (R71) at Elfde-Liniestraat in the Flemish city of Hasselt will be a major step forward for traffic in the area, as it will directly contribute to an approximate 30% reduction in cycling trips in the city. The construction of this bridge is motivated by the need to safely and efficiently connect different parts of the city, which until now have been separated by the R71, thus eliminating the need for cyclists to use long detours to cross the road, or to face level crossings with traffic lights, while at the same time increasing their safety and the need to use private vehicles for short journeys.
Sarens, world leader in heavy lifting, engineered transport and crane rental services, has been directly involved in the installation of this 240-ton bridge. In the first phase, the Sarens team worked on transporting the structure to the quay, using two sets of SPMTs (Self-Propelled Modular Trailers) equipped with turntables. There, the structure was transferred to a barge with the help of an LTM 1650-8.1 crane and a Sarens AC700 configured as a 500-ton crane due to planning constraints.
Once in Hasselt, the Sarens team set up its equipment on the quay to proceed with the unloading of the bridge structure from the barges. For this, a tandem lift of three cranes was carried out: the LTM 1500-8.1 and an AC700 worked on lifting one side of the bridge, using a triangle configuration to be able to work further, while another AC700 crane was in charge of lifting the other side of the bridge. . When the first AC700 was able to single-handedly lift the approximate 145-ton load, the Sarens team unhooked the LTM 1500-8.1 crane, and the bridge was gently slewed between by the two remaining 700 ton cranes on to the SPMT’s.
Taking advantage of the reduced traffic impact on the R71 on a Sunday morning, the Sarens team proceeded to transport the structure to its final location, where it was lifted and installed in an operation that took approximately 10 hours (mobilization, transport of the bridge, lifting and demobilization.
The project to install Hasselt's new cycle bridge is part of the municipality's ongoing plan to promote this mode of transport, in line with the strategy of the Flemish authorities, which have increased the number of kilometers of cycle paths built per year from 75 to 400 km. Hasselt will soon increase its cycling infrastructure with a new two-lane road around the university campus, which will be complemented by the installation of water pumps in the tunnels to prevent flooding, as well as other developments to benefit cycling in the municipality.
Over the past few years, Sarens has established itself as a strategic player in the renovation of bridges over the world. Recently the company has completed several major projects, such as the century-old Colbert Bridge in Dieppe (France), or the installation of the 5,850-ton OA14 bridge in Bettembourg (Luxembourg). Sarens has also installed a new pedestrian bridge between the Hazebrouck (France) railroad station and its parking lot and an 8,400-ton railway bridge on the A1 freeway in Amsterdam (Netherlands).
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/