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

  • Vital structures
    February 10, 2012
    A wide variety of products are available to help bridge owners reduce the need for costly repairs. Bridges are one of the most expensive structures on a highway system, and their maintenance, and where necessary, repair will save millions over time. Prevention being better than cure means that anything that can be done to reduce the need for repair is a good investment. For example, a MOOG bucket-type inspection unit has been commissioned for the Naini Bridge in Allahabad in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Indi
    Read More
  • Rapid action by Rapid International for Scotland’s Collier Group
    April 12, 2018
    Batching plant supplier Rapid International has supplied the Scottish Collier Group with its first batching plant as it enters the ready-mix and precast concrete market. The plant was installed at Collier’s Goathill Quarry in Fife. Collier Group’s activities have included processing of inert rubble, muck and soil from building sites, transportation of ash from power stations, production of type 1 sub-base, rock armour, single size aggregates including high PSV and manufactured concrete sand from the washi
    Read More
  • Collaborative approach is delivering the Queensferry Crossing
    March 28, 2017
    The Queensferry Crossing forms the centrepiece of a major upgrade to the cross-Forth transport corridor in the east of Scotland. It will be the longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world and represents a Scottish Government capital investment of more than €1.5 billion. The 2.7km Queensferry Crossing is alongside the Forth Road Bridge and will carry the M90 motorway across the Firth of Forth between Lothian, at South Queensferry, and Fife, at North Queensferry. Each of the three towers are 207m
    Read More
  • Cleveland Bridge on A1 project in the UK
    February 7, 2017
    Cleveland Bridge UK has delivered a significant upgrade project on the A1 in North Yorkshire, England, with the fabrication and installation of eight bridges. Using British-made steel, the 20-month project was completed with the installation of the 53m Fort Overbridge. The work was carried out on behalf of Highways England’s principal contractor on the A1 scheme, a Carillion and Morgan Sindall joint venture. The A1 Leeming to Barton upgrade is replacing the dual carriageway with a three-lane motorw
    Read More

Highlighted Content