In a significant infrastructure project aimed at enhancing the traffic flow and safety in Erpe-Mere, Sarens, the global leader in heavy lifting and engineered transport, successfully completed the lifting and placement of six massive concrete beams for the new bridge over the E40 motorway.

This project, executed for our client Jan de Nul, is a critical part of Agentschap voor Wegen en Verkeer’s broader initiative to renovate and repair vital transport structures across Flanders. The construction of the new bridge in Erpe-Mere, following the demolition of the old bridge by Jan de Nul last year, promises to significantly alleviate traffic congestion by accommodating a higher volume of vehicles simultaneously. Constructed to modern standards, the bridge is expected to have a longer lifespan with reduced maintenance requirements.

Each of the six concrete beams lifted by Sarens measured 44 meters in length and weighed approximately 110T. Our crew used an AC700-HA with a boom length of 35.5 meters and a counterweight of 140T and an LTM1450-8.1 with a 26.6-meter boom and134T counterweight.

The E40 motorway was originally planned to be closed from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m., but efficient planning and execution allowed for the road to be reopened by 7 a.m., minimizing disruption to traffic.