Spectacular Lifts for New London Bridge

SMIT’s floating sheerlegs Taklift 3 called at London for a six day visit to perform a series of lifts for the installation of six pylons for the downriver crossing. These included four stand-alone pylons, each weighing 30 tonnes, a 42 tonne A-frame structure and a 57 tonne double pylon structure. The first phase of work was completed last year when the sheerlegs Taklift 5 installed the pylons for the upriver crossing. The pylons support the concrete deck of the foot bridge.

The heavy lift contract was awarded by Costain/Norwest Holst JV. The work involved six main lifts which took place at night to avoid disturbing daytime rail movements across Hungerford Bridge. Taklift 3 was rigged with the A-frame and a 37m flyjib plus an extension 9m flyjib, providing the vessel with a lifting height of 70m.

Due to operational constraints, the lifts were preformed in two stages. Between 21:00 and 23:00, Taklift 3 lifted a pylon element from a barge and rotated it into the installation position. Between 00:30 and 04:30, the sheerlegs manoeuvred with the element in its hooks to the installation site for final positioning on the bridge line.

One of the more challenging tasks for Taklift 3 was safe passage through and under the Thames many bridges to the centre of London. With very tight clearance in several cases, the sheerlegs was ballsted down to an air draft of 9.5m to ensure safe passage. All work was conducted in close co-operation with the Port of London Authority, which provided extensive assistance.

MJ Information No: 17201