Skip to main content

Project underway for Chinese bridge

Potain tower cranes are being used to construct a major cable-stayed bridge in China. The conditions are tough and feature high winds and monsoon conditions, with the cranes working at an altitude of 1,500m above sea level in a mountain range in southern China to build the Duge Beipanjiang Bridge, which will span 720m when it is complete The job is requiring six Potain tower cranes in total during the course of the US$92.75 million (570 million RMB) project. Two cranes have been erected at the job site a
May 15, 2014 Read time: 3 mins
The cranes are having to contend with tough operating conditions
Potain tower cranes are being used to construct a major cable-stayed bridge in China. The conditions are tough and feature high winds and monsoon conditions, with the cranes working at an altitude of 1,500m above sea level in a mountain range in southern China to build the Duge Beipanjiang Bridge, which will Span 720m when it is complete

The job is requiring six 5916 Potain tower cranes in Total during the course of the US$92.75 million (570 million RMB) project. Two cranes have been erected at the job site and are working on the bridge’s main pylons on either side of the Beipanjiang Canyon. The four other Potain cranes are due to be installed over the coming months and all of the cranes will work at the site for four years. The cranes will climb to final working heights of up to 290m to complete the project.
Liupanshui Shengsheng Construction Equipment Leasing owns the Potain MCT 370 cranes. The Potain cranes at the Duge Beipanjiang Bridge project were transported more than 2,000km from Potain’s facility in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province, to the job site, much of it along narrow and winding roads. Now, the equipment has to cope with the monsoon climate, which fluctuates from freezing temperatures, high winds and snow through to drought and dust storms. Operations for the cranes run 14 hours a day, every day, with both required to lift construction materials and equipment in loads of up to 20tonnes. The bridge’s pylons will measure 269m and 247m in height, so to contend with such high lifting heights the cranes are fitted with winches that enable them to lift 17tonne loads up to 270m high.

The Potain MCT 370 is built at Potain’s facility in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province, China. The maximum jib length is 75m while 2.7tonnes can be lifted at the jib end. The MCT 370 has a maximum free-standing height of more than 64m.

Duge Beipanjiang Bridge will Span across the Beipanjiang Canyon at the boundary of Yunnan Province and Guizhou Province. Total length for the bridge will be 1,340m and having started in 2012, work is expected to complete in 2016. Main contractor in charge of the build is Second Harbour Engineering Company, a subsidiary of the Fortune 500-listed 2661 China Communications Construction Company. In addition to the bridge the company is building a 3.4km section of the Bidu Expressway, which includes three tunnels and seven bridges.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • First public outing for Liebherr tower crane at INTERMAT
    January 6, 2017
    Liebherr used INTERMAT 2012 to show its new 380 EC-B 16 Litronic flat-top crane. The 380tonne unit tops the 15-model range, which starts from 50tonnes. The new “flagship” can lift loads of up to 3,400kg at its 75m maximum radius. With the Litronic system, the 380 EC-B 16 can provide up to 20% more load lift at the push of a button. This is achieved by integrating the load-moment limiting system, the ABB operating-range limiting system and the MDA machine data evaluation program.
  • First public outing for Liebherr tower crane at INTERMAT
    April 20, 2012
    Liebherr used INTERMAT 2012 to show its new 380 EC-B 16 Litronic flat-top crane. The 380tonne unit tops the 15-model range, which starts from 50tonnes. The new “flagship” can lift loads of up to 3,400kg at its 75m maximum radius. With the Litronic system, the 380 EC-B 16 can provide up to 20% more load lift at the push of a button. This is achieved by integrating the load-moment limiting system, the ABB operating-range limiting system and the MDA machine data evaluation program.
  • Innovative formwork solution to bridge construction
    February 20, 2012
    Innovative solutions are being applied to the construction of bridge structures as Patrick Smith reports. RMD Kwikform Iberica has engineered and supplied specialist formwork and falsework for construction of the much-needed Monteporreiro Viaduct in northern Spain. The viaduct will connect Monteporreiro with the Benedictine Monastery of San Bieito Lérez on the other side of the river, and in the process will ease congestion in the nearby town of Pontevedra, diverting some 5,000 vehicles/day.
  • Peri’s formwork and shoring solution for the “East End Crossing”
    July 6, 2016
    Pylons almost 90m high are a striking feature of a new cable-stayed East End Crossing bridge over the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky state in the US The pylons are characterised by their complex shapes and massive legs and cross beams. Peri provided a comprehensive overall concept for its construction – consisting of a planning solution with perfectly matched formwork, climbing, shoring and scaffolding systems along with extensive on-site support. With a Peri solution, the construction crew were a