Wagenborg Nedlift Lift Temporary Bridge Sections in Groningen – Gallery

The largest and busiest motorway intersection in the North Netherlands is the Julianaplein in the city of Groningen. Two motorways, the A7 and A28, intersect here currently controlled by traffic lights. This situation leads to considerable congestion around the city. For this reason Julianaplein is being completely converted into a new grade-separated traffic interchange.

This is a major challenge, because Julianaplein is wedged between roads, waterways and buildings. That is why the road builders opted for an unconventional approach, namely the construction of a temporary junction that traffic will use during the conversion work.

An important part of the new temporary junction is the temporary bridge over the Noord Willemskanaal and Brailleweg. This temporary bridge, made by Retro Bridge, consists of steel bridge parts of a maximum of 45 tons each, which are placed on temporary foundations. A big lifting job for the lifting specialists of Wagenborg Nedlift!

The Wagenborg Nedlift team does not hesitate to do a bit of heavy lifting. But in this case, the subsurface was a particular challenge. Naturally, many cubic meters of sand had been brought in for the construction of new temporary roads and driveways. But that was not possible at the ramp of the new temporary bridge. That is why a different solution was chosen, namely giant polystyrene foam blocks (EPS). This makes it possible to quickly build a light and safe base for a driveway.

Giant polystyrene foam blocks (EPS)

But what if you put a 700 tonne mobile crane on it to lift heavy bridge sections?

Together with the engineers of Wagenborg Engineering the lifting team pondered this question. First of all, it was accurately determined which stamping pressures would occur during each phase of the lifting operation. The engineers then calculated how this pressure could be optimally distributed so that the polystyrene blocks would not be overloaded. This resulted in a load distribution floor of no less than 64m² per outrigger leg!

The load distribution floors consisted of a combination of steel flaps and wooden partitions that were positioned on top of the polystyrene foam elements according to an exact installation plan. After this, the 700 tonner could stamp and the work could begin.

During five night lifting operations, the first part consisting of 2150 m2 bridge sections was put in place. The 700 tonne truck towered high above Julianaplein. Truly high-quality lifting work!

Photographs: Meter Photography, Retro Bridge, Raymond Bos

Photographs: Meter Photography, Retro Bridge, Raymond Bos

Source Wagenborg Nedlift