Sarens' operations sometimes have the cinematic feel of an espionage thriller: operating during the night, working within a narrow window of time, and deploying extremely well-honed expertise and specialised equipment, incredible feats are pulled off just before daybreak.

Recently, Sarens completed such a mission on behalf of client Viabuild, installing an iconic, one-of-a-kind bridge within a tight eight-hour window in the middle of the night. This 278-tonne bridge at the Vierarmen junction in Tervuren, Belgium, is unique: made entirely of European wood, it is the first wooden bridge of such size in Flanders.

To install this expansive structure, which floats over a span of nearly 70 metres, the Sarens technical team chose just the right equipment for the job, including SPMTs, jacks, transport stools, and CS250 towers. The CS250 towers were chosen because they could be installed below the pre-assembled bridge at 1,1 metres high, allowing the team to safely jack down at a faster pace and meet time constraints.

Sarens brought in equipment from all around Europe, with 24 trucks taking approximately one day to complete the journey. Assembly of the SPMTs and the transport structure then took only three days due to successful coordination and strategic pre-assembly at Sarens' headquarters in Wolvertem.

The bridge's manufacturer, Amann, not only calculated the bridge's strength and deformations to help with installation, but also supplied custom-made wooden support blocks to be used between the transport equipment and the bridge, so as not to damage the bridge itself.

Using four CS250 towers, eight SPMTs, fixed transport stools, and four 100-tonne jacks, the crew transported and installed the bridge in mere hours. To achieve an installation at such speed would have been unheard of just a few years ago–and now, it is standard operating procedure, especially with Sarens' engineering acumen and heavy-duty equipment on the job.

As part of the F29 cycle highway between Leuven and Brussels, this sustainable structure now safely ferries bicyclists and pedestrians over the Vierarmen junction: what was once a hazardous crossing is now safe for both bicycle traffic and pedestrian use. The Vierarmen bridge is part of the greater 'Werken aan de Ring' initiative, which is building safe paths, bridges, and tunnels to allow for smooth bicycle travel along and over the Ring.

Sarens would like to thank our client, Viabuild, for the opportunity to make this project a success–and to help bring safer cycling opportunities to the region.