Skip to main content

Video captures nocturnal bridge demolition in Germany’s Ruhr area

November 17, 2014
It was a 24-hour job to demolish the bridge called On Leiterchen that crossed over the A43 in the industrial Ruhr area of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Traffic was stopped in both directions between junctions Recklinghausen-Hochlarmark and Recklinghause-Herten.

Before the serious work of nibbling away at the concrete structure could start, a 50cm layer of sand was spread across the entire motorway to protect the pavement from excavator machine tracks and falling concrete. The bridge eventually jack-knifed in on itself.

Equipment used included Cat 336D and E excavators, three Hitachi ZX350 and one ZX470 excavators and two Mercedes Benz Arocs dump trucks.

Related Content

  • Versatile small construction equipment
    February 9, 2012
    Smaller construction equipment offers versatile options, particularly on highway repair and maintenance projects. Patrick Smith reports. Visitors to any highway construction site across the world will see a sizeable amount of utility equipment in action carrying out a variety of tasks. Indeed, because of its smaller, more compact size, such multi-task equipment is essential when repair and maintenance projects are being carried out, particularly in urban areas where space may be limited.
  • Simple road safety measures save lives
    February 15, 2012
    Elementary road safety measures quickly pay back the costs of investment and, more importantly, help save lives as Patrick Smith reports. More than 300 people in the UK are alive today or have avoided the prospect of a lifetime of special care because just 15 roads have had simple improvements put in place.
  • Tunnel waterproofing solutions
    February 29, 2012
    Tunnels are the highest value assets on a highway, making their operation, safety and maintenance of paramount importance. Patrick Smith reports
  • UK’s M6 tolled motorway for sale
    June 21, 2016
    For sale: one UK toll motorway along with operating business. Well maintained. Price negotiable. David Arminas looks at what is on offer As if right on cue, a French articulated truck starts to back up along the hard shoulder at an exit area of M6toll. The manoeuvring is watched from an office inside the nearby M6toll headquarters. Inside, Andy Pearson, chief executive of M6toll, glances over his shoulder and interrupts his presentation to World Highways. “He’s probably missed the dedicated wide-load