This new structure, weighing 2,600 tons and measuring 106 meters in length, will help reduce travel time between the two banks of the canal by approximately 15 minutes and cut CO2 emissions per vehicle on this stretch by 12%.
To move the bridge structure, the Sarens team used 120 K24 SPMT axle lines, and it was necessary to deploy its twin barges, Karel & Victor, for transport from Evergem to Ghent.
Designed by Laurent Ney and manufactured by Victor Buyck Steel Construction, the new bridge is part of an urban redevelopment project that involves the remodeling of 22 crossings and intersections and the creation of 27 kilometers of cycling infrastructure in the city.
Sarens, world leader in heavy lifting, engineered transport, and crane rental services, has played a direct role in the installation of the new Pyramid Bridge KWN02 over the Ringvaart Canal in the city of Ghent, Belgium. Weighing over 2,600 tons and measuring 106 meters in length, this bridge will play a crucial role in the city’s urban redevelopment, by helping to improve traffic flow, safety, and mobility conditions on the R4 Ring Road, reducing travel time between the two banks of the canal by approximately 15 minutes and cutting CO2 emissions from each vehicle traveling on this stretch by approximately 12%.
As part of this project, the Sarens engineering team utilized 120 K24 SPMTs (Self-Propelled Modular Trailers) for land transport, in addition to its Karel&Victor twin barges for transport from the Victor Buyck Steel Construction plant in Evergem to Ghent. During this phase of the project, Sarens utilized various ballast pumps, winches, and bracing systems to secure the load during its transport through the canal. The journey posed a real challenge for the team, given that at some points along the canal there was only 30–40 centimeters of clearance, which made it necessary to take extreme precautions to avoid causing damage to the transported infrastructure or the surrounding environment.
To carry out this project, extensive engineering and planning studies were required, as the bridge’s pyramidal shape and the location of its center of gravity and support points necessitated a very different structural calculation during the lifting process for its installation. Once in its final location, Sarens used its 4-tower CS1000 jacking system and 340T-MB 2500x1000 modular beams for the installation process.
Aware of the importance of this new road infrastructure in its surroundings and the impact that interrupting traffic during its installation would have, the entire process was carried out over a single weekend to minimize disruptions to river and road traffic, which entailed the implementation of uninterrupted work shifts coordinated by the Sarens team.
According toBart Hemeleers, Technical Solutions Project Engineer at Sarens, “This project presented a multitude of challenges for our team, which we were able to overcome thanks to our extensive international experience in similar projects. Its scale and significance for the community in Ghent demonstrate that, through public-private partnerships and local engineering, it is possible to execute major projects while reducing environmental impact by conducting much of the logistics and transport work on the canal rather than using hundreds of trucks. We thank Victor Buyck Steel Construction and TM Bravo4 for their trust and involvement in this project, and we look forward to collaborating with them on new projects of international significance in the near future.”
The new Pyramid Bridge is part of a major urban redevelopment plan in the city of Ghent, which will involve the renovation of 22 crossings and intersections, as well as the creation of 27 kilometers of cycling infrastructure. This project will have a significant impact on improving road safety in the region, as it features grade-separated crossings that separate bicycle and pedestrian traffic. In addition, the bridge features two dedicated green corridors to facilitate wildlife passage, which will restore connectivity for local species—especially small mammals and amphibians—that were previously isolated by the Ringvaart canal.
Over the past few years, Sarens has established itself as a strategic player in the construction, installation, and renovation of bridges around the world. Recently, the company has completed several major projects, such as the installation of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge as part of the redesign of Place Sainctelette (Brussels), the century-old Colbert Bridge in Dieppe (France), and the 5,850-ton OA14 bridge in Bettembourg (Luxembourg). Sarens has also installed a new pedestrian bridge between the Hazebrouck (France) railway station and its parking lot, as well as 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/