The two identical rolling bascule bridges were removed at the beginning of 2016 for renovation.
After being renovated at Aelterman’s shop in Ghent, they were loaded onto pontoons by means of a first set of 24 axles – two sets of 12 lines side by side – of self propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) and from there sailed to Antwerp.
On arrival in Antwerp, the bridges were turned on the deck of the pontoon using the SPMTs. Following this maneuver, the element came crossways the pontoon and between the abutments.
The bridges were then put in place using the combination of a mobile crane type Demag AC700 and a second set of 12 axles of SPMTs (2 x 6 axles side by side).
The second set of SPMTs was driven on top of the first set of SPMTs to eliminate the difference in height between the pontoon and the quay wall. The upper set was thus driven from the pontoon onto the quay wall bearing the heaviest part of the bridge, including balance weight.
By lowering the SPMTs hydraulically on one side and using the mobile crane on the other side, the bridge was put in place on its embankments.
The bridge on the East side will be reserved for the new tramway, the other one will only be used by road traffic.
Within a few weeks, it is time for another bridge in the same district, the so-called London Bridge, to be replaced by a new one.
