Sarens was asked by our trusted client, SM Besix Galère, to replace bridge beams as part of the renovation of the Huccorgne Viaduct in Wanze, Belgium. 

The bridge supporting the tracks to Liège was renovated between January to July 2022 and was released for traffic movement before work on the tracks to Namur could start. Sarens took care of the renovation that took place during this first phase of the project. Our involvement continued with the renovation of the Huccorgne viaduct supporting the E42/A15 in January 2023. The final phase of the renovation will focus on the replacement of the tracks towards Namur. The project is expected to be delivered to the public for circulation in the month of July 2023. 

With constant traffic movement next to the site and congested space, Sarens deployed the: 

• CC2800
• AC700
• Auxillary cranes
• AT6
• LTM1300-6.2

Our team on the ground was involved in the removal and installation of the bridge beams for a total of nine spans – that is to say, four beams per span. The old beams were removed with a 27,5m spreader. Sarens Project Manager, Bert Kustermans says, “The location and height of the bridge posed a challenge which was addressed by planning and selecting the correct equipment, a job very well done by our Sarens colleague Luc Vanderstraeten, an experienced CAD Designer, and executing the lifts smoothly.” He adds, “The team secured that there was no room for error as we were lifting heavy beams next to a highway with constant traffic.”

Following this operation, Sarens also deployed two 130T cranes to allow Hasselt University to test the residual capacity of the 32-meter-long concrete bridge beams of the Huccorgne viaduct. The beams were transported to the Application Center Concrete and Construction of UHasselt for stability measurements. Like many current viaducts on Walloon roads, these bridge components date to the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Walloon government, which financed this project, is currently looking into mapping out the condition of their viaducts. With this study, researchers will be able to provide guidelines for the further steps that should be taken for the other bridges that are similarly constructed. 

Sarens is proud to have been part of these major Belgian motorway bridge renovations. The viaduct is being upgraded in an ecological and economic way as it allowed the recycling of old beams for research purposes. The highway authority opted for a great solution that could serve as a flagship model for more bridges in the future.