Weldex's high wire act

Transport for London is installing the cable car line, called Emirates Air Line, as part of Mayor Boris Johnson’s regeneration plans.

TFL has appointed Mace as the design, build and operate contractor.

Using the LR 11350, which previously erected 200ft tall wind turbines, Mace lifted the 68t pieces of tower sections, and placed them into the Thames river.

After constructing the North Intermediate Tower, the Mace is constructing the South Tower this week.

Mace called the LR 11350, which is configured with a reach of 120m and a height of 183m, the largest capacity crawler crane in the UK.

Weldex installed the LR 11350 over a two-week period, using a 300t services crane for incorporating the 16 main components, Mace said.

Matt Randall, Mace’s project director on the Emirates Air Line project said of the installation:

“It is very exciting to see this soon-to-be iconic London landmark becoming a reality, and this crane installation allows us to reach the next significant milestone of this impressive project.

“We need the largest capacity crane to help us meet the challenge presented by constructing this Tower in the Thames. Credit must go to the entire project team for the work continuing on schedule for this latest important milestone.

“Once complete the South Tower will be the tallest of the three towers and will be the only one built in the Thames itself. Made up of approximately 6,500 steel pieces measuring between 30-50 mm long the total weight when finished will be 56t, making it also the heaviest tower.”

Danny Price, TfL Emirates Air Line operations manager, said the heavylifting Liebherr crawler help it in meeting its deadline by boosting productivity on the project.

“The Emirates Air Line is fast taking shape, one of the three towers is already complete with the second due to be completed shortly, and work is about to get underway on the largest of the main towers, which will rise to 90m in height.

Having one of the largest cranes in the country on site highlights the sheer scale of the job at hand. We are on track to have this new transport scheme opening this summer.”

When the £36m project is completed, the line will be able to carry 2,500 people per hour in each direction, and create an interchange between the Docklands Light Railway and Jubilee line, and more links to the O2 Football Arena.