Mammoet, a leading specialist in engineered heavy lifting and transport sector, said it had played a crucial role in the widening of the complex Mirdif City Center bridge project in Dubai by adopting an innovative installation approach with minimum disruption.

In close coordination with the contractor Afcons Infrastructure and Dubai Road Transport Authority, the operation took place overnight to avoid disruption to local businesses and residents.
 
Each girder installation activity was performed within a 30-minute road closure 2-3 times each night. All precast girders were successfully and safely placed into position two days ahead of schedule.
 
The project is part of the Dubai Road and Transport Authority’s (RTA) programme of continuous improvement of the road infrastructure.
 
Once completed, the bridge improvements will ease traffic flow for road users, meeting the current and future needs of commuters and alleviating traffic congestion.
 
The project, located at the interchange along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed road (E311) and Al Rebat street (D83), involves the construction of additional lanes between two existing two-lane bridges, converting them into one high-capacity flyover comprising six lanes.
 
The task was huge as 24 precast girders, connecting the two bridges together, needed to be installed on supports from the top of the bridges.
 
Installing them from the ground wasn’t possible due to space constraints and the busy E311 highway is too crucial to the city’s transport infrastructure to allow time for a stick-built methodology.
 
Hence, soon after the FEED stage, Afcons Infrastructure contacted Mammoet to develop a solution for this installation challenge.
 
Mammoet’s engineering expertise equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and global experience of working among increasingly complex urban environments would be crucial in this case, said Michel Bunnik, Commercial Director Mammoet Middle East & Africa.
 
The company installed the girders using a tailored mobile gantry system that could straddle the two existing bridges. This system would comprise custom-made beams with two 100 tonne strand jacks and skidding system, sitting on top of SPMT trailers.
 
The strand jacks would lift the girders vertically, the skidding system would allow side movements, and SPMTs would transport the girders from pick up location to the installation spot, he explained.
 
The mobile gantry was positioned above each precast girder, measuring 30m long and weighing up to 68 tonne. With rigging connected to the girder’s lifting points, it was raised using the strand jacks until it was at sufficient height for transport.
 
The mobile gantry travelled over the existing bridges with the girder until it reached its setting point. The girder was then skidded above its final position and lowered down before being secured onto supports. The mobile gantry then returned to the pick-up location for the next girder, he added.
 
Explaining its innovative installation approach on the project, Bunnik said Mammoet went for it after a detailed design engineering and risk assessment.
 
"We are pleased to have been entrusted with this challenging installation by Afcons Infrastructure. By partnering with Afcons, we have ensured swift and efficient installation of girders for one of the key interchanges in Dubai, that will soon enable a smooth flow of traffic," remarked Bunnik.
 
“This non-conventional, innovative method of installation proves once again that Mammoet can offer an intelligent and efficient solution to any challenge, no matter how complex.” he added.-TradeArabia News Service

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