Queensferry Crossing for Liebherr

More than 12 Liebherr cranes have been put to work on the Queensferry Crossing over the Firth of Forth in Scotland, UK.

The main client for the Forth Crossing Bridge construction project is Transport Scotland, the Scottish Government’s transport authority. Cranes on site include three Liebherr 630 EC-H 40 Litronic top slewing cranes, two Liebherr LR 1300s and a number of mobile cranes. The mobile and crawler cranes are operated by Ainscough Crane Hire.

On average there are eight telescopic cranes on site each day. Tasks for the smaller cranes include handling rebar, placing shuttering and carrying out general construction lifts. Work for the larger cranes includes lifting bridge deck segments and precast sections. One of the LR 1300 crawler cranes has been mounted on a barge situated in the river. The second machine is based on the shore.

The new bridge, which is called the Queensferry Crossing, is due for completion by the end of 2016. Once complete it will be 2.7 km long and will sit alongside the existing Forth Road Bridge (FRB) built in 1964.

Liebherr is responsible for crane supply at the project and development of the cranes. This includes a special design for the high wind speeds and calculations for the guying on the towers, a company spokesperson said.

The tower cranes have capacities of 180 tonnes, or 40 tonnes at a radius of 18 m. They have been installed on steel foundations and are configured with 36 metre jibs. All three models are fitted with 110 kW high performance hoist gears.

To adapt to the high wind speeds the cranes are specified according to wind zone D 25. The cranes are fitted with the 500 HC tower systems and are mounted on a 10 metre 630 EC-H undercarriage, the manufacturer said. Each crane reaches 235 m high, with hook heights of 212 m and five guying systems on the pylons.