Construction Site A42: Experts Engage in 'Dance of the Cranes' - Crane Dancers on Mass Construction Site A42: Expert Workers Engaging in Choreographed Operational Ballet
In the Ruhr region, a substantial construction project is underway on Autobahn 42 near Bottrop, Germany. The aim is to expand the highway to six lanes, necessitating the demolition and rebuilding of an industrial bridge with a greater span, an endeavor that costs approximately €35 million. The unloading of the new bridge's two 250-ton halves will commence on Tuesday.
Though the expansion of the actual highway bridge has yet to be scheduled, the reconstruction of the industrial bridge will follow, according to Autobahn Westfalen's spokesperson. Each half of the new industrial bridge, supplied by chemical company Evonik on behalf of the bridge owner, BP, weighs 250 tons and is fully assembled with all lines. Due to their weight, the Rhine-Herne Canal had to be emptied for the bridge parts to be transported over it. Two extra-tall special crawler cranes, typically used in wind farm construction, are required to unload the parts from the ship for each bridge half.
On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, the bridge halves will be unloaded while the Rhine-Herne Canal is fully closed to prevent wave movements from disrupting the delicate maneuver. A test run without weight will be conducted on Monday to rehearse the unloading process. The intricate task of synchronously lifting and turning the bridge halves, likened to a "crane ballet," demands precise coordination between crane operators and ironworkers.
The assembly of the new industrial bridge is scheduled to take place over the Pentecost weekend in just ten days. During this time, parts will also be swung over the highway, resulting in a complete closure of A42 from Friday evening (June 6 at 10:00 PM) to June 16 (5:00 AM). A viewing platform will be set up for spectators.
The current A42 canal bridge for road traffic is dilapidated and was temporarily closed earlier this year. The closure impacts vehicles over 3.5 tons, with a barrier separating traffic. A42 serves as one of the essential east-west axes in the Ruhr region between Duisburg and Dortmund, with approximately 82,000 vehicles using it daily.
The new industrial bridge, supplied by chemical company Evonik and constructed for bridge owner BP, will bring much-needed aid to the transportation industry of the small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the Ruhr region. After the successful unloading of the two 250-ton halves of the new bridge, construction on the rebuilt industrial bridge will commence, helping to alleviate the current issues with the dilapidated A42 canal bridge that is limiting small and medium-sized enterprises using the essential east-west axis in the Ruhr region.
