Flyover replacement

French contractor DSD Démolition was one of three firms that worked on the recent demolition of the A55 highway flyover in Marseilles, France. The 20-year-old flyover stood near the harbour and formed part of a main route through Marseille leading to Lyon and Avignon. However, it was an ugly structure and spoiled the city's landscape so as part of the wider regeneration taking part in Marseille's harbour, the 1.3km bridge had to be demolished within three months. DSD Démolition had two operators for each of
February 22, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
French contractor DSD Démolition was one of three firms that worked on the recent demolition of the A55 highway flyover in Marseilles, France. The 20-year-old flyover stood near the harbour and formed part of a main route through Marseille leading to Lyon and Avignon. However, it was an ugly structure and spoiled the city's landscape so as part of the wider regeneration taking part in Marseille's harbour, the 1.3km bridge had to be demolished within three months. DSD Démolition had two operators for each of its machines and worked around the clock to complete the project on time. Demolition work was carried out at night by a total of eight machines, when the nearby road was closed, and rubble was cleared away during the day by six machines.
DSD Démolition used four 233 Hitachi excavators on the site. The bridge was demolished by a ZX470LCH-3 and ZX250LCN-3, which were both fitted with hydraulic hammer attachments, protective guards and lights to work through the night. The ZX470LCH-3 was equipped with a quick coupler to change between a standard and 26m high-reach boom. A ZX350LCN-3 fitted with a rotating concrete breaker attachment was used for crushing large concrete blocks into smaller pieces and clearing the site. An older ZX350LC with shears was used to cut concrete and steel bars.
Now the bridge has been demolished, work can start on the construction of a 1.2km tunnel beneath the road where it once stood. This will connect to an existing tunnel that runs beneath the old harbour.
Earthmoving & soil compaction

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Atlas Copco attachments make short work of the A8 Blaubeurer Weg Bridge
    March 21, 2016
    A reinforced concrete bridge over the Autobahn 8 between Merklingen and Nellingen in southern Germany was demolished overnight due in no small part to the efficient, reliable performance of Atlas Copco hydraulic attachments. In addition to demolition grippers, breakers and pulverisers, the demolition team used the HM 2000 hydraulic magnet to demolish structures and sort demolition waste. There is now nothing to stop the widening of the A8 to six lanes or construction of the parallel high-speed Wendlingen
    Read More
  • Tunnels eliminate bottlenecks
    February 10, 2012
    Some of the bottlenecks on the multi-lane Mittlere Ring, Munich, Germany, one of the main arterial roads circling the city centre have been eliminated by the addition of new tunnels. The Luise-Kiesselbach Square, the last section of this road improvement effort, is an important traffic hub south-west of the city where motorways A96 from Lindau and A5 from Garmisch meet, causing long delays in daily rush-hour traffic, writes Patrick Smith.
    Read More
  • Almost gone: Canada’s old Port Mann Bridge deconstructed
    August 14, 2015
    Three years ago a welder’s cut halved Canada’s old Port Mann Bridge. David Arminas reports from the banks of the Fraser River. By the time this issue of World Highways reaches you, one of Canada’s iconic steel arch bridges will be a shadow of its former self. It’s been a three-year demolition job since the first cut across the deck of the old Port Mann Bridge just outside the city of Vancouver on Canada’s Pacific coast. A new 10-lane 2.2km Port Mann Bridge opened in 2012 (see box). It runs parallel to the o
    Read More
  • High reach excavator safety training launched
    April 11, 2012
    New demolition tolls are coming to market while safety training for high reach excavator operators has been establishe.d With the Intermat equipment exhibition due shortly, various manufacturers are offering new demolition tools to the market. Meanwhile the UK's National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC) is now setting a lead in the sector by offering a high reach excavator training course. The NFDC has partnered with the National Demolition Training Group (NDTG) to develop the world's first train
    Read More

Highlighted Content