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

  • Rokbak’s top 10 hot winter operating tips
    December 11, 2023
    Safeguarding hauler productivity is vital when operating in low temperatures. Scottish articulated hauler manufacturer Rokbak addresses the challenges posed by winter weather.
    Read More
  • Golden route to success
    July 20, 2012
    Built in 1937 and still the ninth longest suspension bridge in the world, the Golden Gate Bridge across San Francisco Bay remains in fine shape despite its age - Andrew Bardin Williams writes The Golden Gate Bridge turned 75 years old on May 27 and continues to play a key role in the transportation, engineering, construction and ITS communities. The structure has played an important historical role, an engineering success that boosted the economy of the region. And it also led the way as the first major pub
    Read More
  • Spaghetti Junction reaches 40 year landmark
    May 21, 2012
    The famous Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham, central England marks its 40th birthday this week. A firm divider of opinion among the millions of motorists that use it each year, its sprawling concrete arteries at junction six of the M6 connect the A38(M) Aston Expressway into central Birmingham. Officially opened on 24 May 1972, the Gravelly Hill Interchange – Spaghetti Junction’s official name - took four years to build and cost between £9m and £10m. It was subsequently dubbed Spaghetti Junction by newspap
    Read More
  • New German autobahn bridge under constriuction
    May 1, 2015
    Crane manufacturer Manitowoc has supplied six Potain cranes to German contractor Max Bögl. These machines are being used for constructing a new bridge carrying the A3 autobahn, close to Limburg. Working at over 70m high, the cranes tower over the Lahn Valley. The cranes for this project were supplied by Max Bögl’s subsidiary, Max Bögl Transport & Geräte. The three topless Potain MDT 222 cranes were selected for the work as they feature tip heights of up to 76.2m and can operate with a working radius of
    Read More

Highlighted Content