ATS Cranes, a branch of Steil Kranarbeiten in Trier, together with their partners, accomplished a significant feat in late September 2023. They were awarded the contract to widen several bridges on the bustling A3 motorway that connects Luxembourg and France. The Pont Berchem bridge was one of these structures.
The A3 expansion to six lanes, including a hard shoulder and an exit lane to the Aire de Berchem Quest service area, necessitated the creation of a new bridge. This remarkable bridge spans 85 meters without any supporting pillars, presenting a challenging task for Frederic Kleinhans, Operations Manager at ATS Cranes in Frisange, Luxembourg.
Using their Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1 and LTM 1300-6.3 cranes, ATS Cranes had to rotate five girders weighing between 87 and 92 tonnes by 90 degrees before installing them onto the abutments. The meticulous planning of the crane positions was crucial, as the 90-degree rotation and placement had to be executed in a single operation.
The relatively new LTM 1650-8.1 crane, equipped with a 45.3-meter boom, a 17.5-meter radius, and 180 tonnes of ballast, played a central role in the nighttime construction. The LTM 1300-6.3 crane, ballasted with 94 tonnes, had a 29.4-meter boom and a 15.3-meter radius. Both cranes were operated by experienced professionals who demonstrated exceptional precision during the challenging slewing process, with the massive steel girders passing just centimeters from the cranes’ luffing cylinders.
The entire operation took place over a weekend, benefiting from good weather and minimal wind conditions. Tandem lifts are not only impressive but also complex to plan. ATS/Steil used their CAD software to calculate and visualize various set-up configurations and boom combinations based on factors like footprint, overhangs, payloads, start and end radius, and ground pressure. This meticulous planning ensured that the construction site setup was precisely executed without on-site measurements during the night.
Frederic Kleinhans commended his highly motivated and well-trained team for their dedication and expertise, highlighting their ability to complete the demanding task with the utmost precision. The last girder was successfully placed into position at 3 am on a Sunday morning.
