Record breaking ABM bridge beams installed near Raith, Scotland

One of the largest mobile cranes in the UK, a 1,500tonne capacity unit, recently positioned nine 90tonne 42m pre-stressed bridge beams by ABM Precast Solutions. The massive W-beams were hoisted into place at Junction 5, the Raith Interchange, on Scotland’s M74 motorway – part of the M8-M73-M74 motorway improvements project.
September 30, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Up, up and away for ABM's W-beams

One of the largest mobile cranes in the UK, a 1,500tonne capacity unit, recently positioned nine 90tonne 42m pre-stressed bridge beams by 8508 ABM Precast Solutions.

The massive W-beams were hoisted into place at Junction 5, the Raith Interchange, on Scotland’s M74 motorway – part of the M8-M73-M74 motorway improvements project.

The Raith interchange is a noted pinch point in the Scottish motorway system, so installation took place in three night operations from midnight to four in the morning. The W-beams are among the largest bridge beams of this type fabricated in the UK in recent years. ABM are supplying precast structures to six other bridges on the £500 million project being delivered for Scottish Roads Partnership on behalf of Transport Scotland.

The beams were also the largest pre-stressed beams produced by ABM since a major upgrading of the company’s factory in the mid-England village of Tuxford.

Each W-beam was cast in purpose-built heated moulds ensuring rapid uniform curing to achieve the 50N/m2 stress load transfer strength. Each beam has more than a 1,700tonnes pre-stress load.

The loads were carried by Walker Haulage of Tuxford to the Scottish border - without escort.  Local police then escorted the steering bogie trailers to site to complete the near-420km journey.

Road Structures

For more information on companies in this article

ABM

Related Content

  • ABM expands range of its pre-stressed concrete bridge beams
    July 7, 2016
    ABM reports that investment manufacturing equipment at its UK factory in Nottinghamshire is permitting production of an increased range of larger, heavier bridge components The new facility means that the company can now also manufacture U and W section prestressed concrete bridge beams of up to 120 tonnes. The company said that the additional capability means it can offer customers shorter cycle times, even for the heaviest and most complex beams, and a product of high and consistent quality. The dev
    Read More
  • Scottish Roads Partnership to complete Central Scotland motorway network
    August 30, 2013
    Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP) has been announced as preferred bidder for the design, construction, financing and operation of a major infrastructure project to complete the Central Scotland motorway network. The key project will complete the motorway network between Glasgow and Edinburgh by upgrading the A8 trunk road between Baillieston and Newhouse to full motorway standards. It also includes work to improve the Raith Interchange and widening key sections of the M8, M73 and M74. This involves constr
    Read More
  • Scottish Roads Partnership preferred bidder for M8, M73 and M74 upgrades
    August 23, 2013
    The Scottish Roads Partnership has been given preferred bidder status by Transport Scotland for the upgrade of the M8, M73 and M74 motorways. Work on the €484.35 million (£415 million) M8, M73 and M74 Motorway Improvements programme, which includes widening sections of each of the motorways, is scheduled to be completed by spring 2017. The Scottish Roads Partnership consortium consists of Ferrovial Agroman (Amey) and Lagan.
    Read More
  • Amey awarded southwest strategic highways contract in Scotland
    April 6, 2020
    Amey starts in August on the €454 million contract for at least eight years.
    Read More

Highlighted Content