Sarens excels at bridge installations, no matter the circumstances: above deep waters, over complex railway lines, with limited working space, and within brief timeframes. So when customer Galère contacted us about performing a bridge installation in Tubize, Belgium, Sarens was ready for action.

The challenges would be formidable—but not impossible. First, to lift the 1.270-tonne bridge into place above a railroad, Sarens would have to navigate a very narrow work area, avoiding railway power lines which could not be removed as well as an underground sewage network that limited where cranes could be installed.

To make matters more complex, the bridge would have to be transported up a 5% slope via SPMT and onto skid beams—but the area to support the skid beams and jack down the bridge would be virtually nonexistent. Sarens would have to work with a 2 x 15 metre strip between the abutment and railway on one side, and a 4 x 15 meter strip between the railway, piles, and old railway building on the other side.

Despite these limiting parameters, Sarens got to work and pulled off a successful bridge installation, bringing together world-class equipment and 12 talented crew members who executed the final lift in May of 2024. To do it, the team deployed: 

• 44 axle lines SPMT K24ST
• 2 telescopic cranes (500 and 700T)
• 4 skid shoes
• 12 climbing systems (8 x CS250, 2 x CS450, and 2 x CS1000)
• 1 MB 1800x1200

Sarens worked to install the bridge in Tubize as part of the city's revitalization efforts. The newly-installed bridge will lead to a shopping area and apartments which are being built on former steel factory land that has been sanitized and upgraded for new development. 

We would like to thank our client for their trust on this project, and wish the city of Tubize success with these pivotal revitalization initiatives!