Affolter Transporte AG, based in Bern, has successfully installed the substructure for a new wildlife crossing over the A1 motorway near Solothurn, Switzerland, completing the complex operation in just six night shifts. The project required the temporary closure of the motorway between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., demanding meticulous planning and flawless execution.
Each night, up to ten timber beams—each three metres high and 38 metres long—were delivered from Rapperswil, around 20 kilometres away, and lifted into place. The beams, slightly curved to span all four lanes without intermediate supports, form part of a structure that will eventually stretch over 50 metres in width.
Affolter deployed a combination of Liebherr cranes for the operation, including the LTM 1300-6.2—the most powerful crane in the company’s fleet—to place 20-tonne loads at half-hour intervals. Smaller cranes, including an LTM 1160-5.2, handled unloading and positioning of the beams into holding frames before the larger crane completed the installation. Each night, the convoy included four tractor units and two escort vehicles, ensuring the motorway reopened promptly for morning traffic.
Led by brothers Ernst and Rudolf Affolter, the company employs 45 staff across four locations in Bern and Aargau. Its fleet includes five Liebherr mobile cranes, five mobile construction cranes, city cranes, and a variety of transport and lifting equipment used across divisions such as industrial relocation and storage.
