Two Wolff tower cranes have been installed to assist with the replacement of the Sill Bridge on the A13 Brenner Motorway in Tyrol, Austria.
The bridge, situated south of Innsbruck and crossing the Sill Gorge, is being rebuilt by the Kufstein-based BODNER Group on behalf of Austria’s motorway operator, ASFINAG.
The new structure will replace the original bridge, which was constructed in the early 1960s, while keeping regular traffic moving along the motorway.
The construction process, scheduled to last approximately three years, requires the demolition of the existing bridge in phases, followed by new construction.
BODNER Group has acquired two Wolff trolley jib cranes, the company’s first of this type for its fleet, to meet the demands of the site.
One crane, the WOLFF 8060.25 Cross with an 80m jib, and a second, the WOLFF 8038.20 Clear with a 70m jib, were positioned on opposite sides of the gorge and mounted on the slopes during summer 2025.
The challenging geography and limited working space in the Sill Gorge complicated the crane assembly.
The installation of the smaller crane required the use of two separate mobile crane locations to fit the jib, while a 450t mobile crane was brought in to assemble the larger unit.
Foundation anchors were inserted 14m into steep ground, approximately 20m below the bridge’s abutment.
The Wolffkran team, in addition to supplying the cranes, assisted with site planning from an early stage.
Operating the cranes in this location required specific permits due to high-voltage power lines and the proximity of Innsbruck Airport’s safety zone. Both cranes feature aviation obstruction lights.
Their lifting capacities, 25t and 20t, will be used to transport concrete, formwork, machinery, and other equipment across all required working areas.
BODNER technical manager Jürgen Peer said: “Naturally, the crane’s high lifting capacities were an important criterion for us.
“Equally important, however, was the support provided by the Wolffkran team, from planning to assembly. On projects of this scale in particular, we value experience, know-how, and direct points of contact at all times.”
As part of the Brenner Motorway, the Sill Bridge is described by project organisers as a key transit route between Austria and Italy.
The bridge replacement is being carried out in several phases, with completion expected by late 2028.
