The Sustainable Transport Bridge, forming part of the Waterford North Quays project, is due to arrive in Waterford in the coming weeks for lifting and installation. The steel superstructure has been in the process of manufacture in Victor Buyck’s bespoke steel fabrication plant in Belgium.
It’s understood the structure will make its way to Waterford in the next fortnight.
The superstructure has been fabricated in four sections, which will be supported on the four concrete piers already constructed in the river. The bridge has a central opening bascule span to facilitate river traffic. The operation and control of the central opening span have required the manufacture and assembly of mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical components and instrumentation.
The bridge sections will arrive on site fully fitted with mechanical and electrical units. Once the steel deck sections are in position and connected, the automated system for opening and closing the central span will be activated and tested.
The transport, lifting, and installation of the four steel deck sections is a complex logistical and engineering challenge. The transport and lifting operations have been subcontracted to Hebo, a Dutch company that specialises in these operations for bridges, shipping, ports, offshore wind turbines, etc.
Marine notice
During lifting operations, the Hebo Lift 9 will deploy anchors and mooring lines to maintain the bridge’s position. An exclusion zone of 200m will be in force around the Hebo Lift 9
during operations and all vessels are instructed to keep well clear. The exclusion zone will be enforced by attending safety boats.
The four bridge sections will be transported on two barges pulled by seagoing tugboats. The deck sections will be loaded onto barges, transported along the canal to the mouth of Antwerp Port, and from there on open sea via the North Sea, English Channel, and Celtic Sea to Waterford Estuary.
Subject to favourable weather and sea conditions, in particular wave height, this journey will take four to five days to complete. The tugboats will then transport the barges up the Waterford Estuary, past Dunmore East and Passage East to their first mooring point at Belview Port.
Separately, Hebo’s floating sheerleg crane, which will complete the lifting operation on site, will also be transported by sea to Belview Port. The transport of the barges and crane up the Waterford Estuary will be closely coordinated with the Port of Waterford. Their onward voyage upstream from Belview Port to the bridge site will be scheduled during high incoming tides. Once on site, it will take a couple of days to derig and mobilise the barges into their lifting positions. The four deck sections will then be lifted into position by the crane.
The floating crane and barges will depart from Ghent this week, arriving in Belview Port & the North Quays site next week. Once derigged and mobilised, the lifting and installation of the four bridge sections will then proceed in the final week of May. The four lifts will be carried out over three to four days, thereafter the tugboats, barges and floating crane will be demobilised and depart.
The fast-tracking of integration works as part of the construction of the SDZ will facilitate the opening of the bridge to the public in Q4 2026.
For further information, visit www.waterfordnorthquays.ie.
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