HS2’s giant bridge building machine swings into action – video

A 7,000t launching girder will put in 1,000 specific segments throughout the 3.4km extended viaduct route throughout a series of lakes and waterways among Hillingdon and the M25.

Originally designed in 2004, the launching girder was 1st utilized during the design of the Hong Kong East Tsing Yi Viaduct.

Specially intended to tackle intricate viaduct construction, the device is named ‘Dominique’ in memory of Bouygues engineer Dominique Droniou who performed a main position in its structure and advancement.

https://www.youtube.com/look at?v=LR6Ps_SfRZY

It will carry and position each and every exclusive viaduct phase weighing up to 140 tonnes. After each and every section is finish, the equipment will inch alone forward into place to create the following stage.

Some 56 piers each individual weighing all around 370 tonnes are becoming manufactured together the Colne Valley route in advance of the girder, with the girder crawling from just one pier to the next, installing the deck segments as it goes.

A person phase is set in area every single facet of the central pier, making use of a cantilever method to stability the composition, as two fifty percent-arches either side of just about every pier are built at the same time. Metal tensioning cables will be threaded via the segments to bolster the bridge.

To enable for the mild curves of the viaduct as it crosses the valley, all the segments are marginally various styles and produced on web-site at a intent-crafted temporary manufacturing facility close to the north abutment.

The enormous viaduct venture is staying led by HS2’s major functions contractor Align JV – a team built up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and VolkerFitzpatrick.

Align Project Director, Daniel Altier said: “The start off of the erection of the deck segments marks the newest significant milestone for Align, relating to the construction of the Colne Valley Viaduct.

“There has been a great deal of difficult work involved to get us to this point, and the achievements so far are a fantastic case in point of what collaboration and fantastic teamwork can supply. I would precisely like to admit the contribution from our offer chain partners – VSL, Kilnbridge, KVJV, VolkerStevin, Tarmac, Sendin and Vaughan Plant Haulage.”

The style of the Colne Valley Viaduct was impressed by the flight of a stone skipping throughout the water, with a collection of stylish spans, some up to 80m long, carrying the railway all over 10m over the surface area of the lakes, River Colne and Grand Union Canal.

In a further visible indication of development on the undertaking, the group have also concluded the design of three of 4 jetties throughout the lakes to get tools into posture to support the building and support just take building autos off area roads.