Erection by turning steel box girders of the crossing of motorway E42 and the ‘Canal du Centre’

In 2019, one half of the bridge on the E42 motorway across the ‘Canal du Centre’ was renovated. The second travelling direction is currently being replaced. The structure has a length of 210.7 m and a total width of 17.90 m. It consists of 2 parallel box girders, with an overlying concrete slab, with a height varying from 3 to 5.5 m. Due to the height of some elements, their transport from the steel workshop to the construction site takes place in a turned position and resting on a web plate. On site, sections with a length varying from 6.6 m to 7.9 m are assembled by welding to 20 parts of length around 25 m. Subsequently, the 20 parts are merged on site to 6 larger elements, which will have to be turned over 90°. A system was developed for this, whereby the turning takes place while the elements are hanging in two cranes and therefore no temporary supports are used. After turning, the larger elements are moved to their final position by floating on pontoon and cranes.