Two double girder spans handling for the new HS/HC Verona-Padua section

Marraffa took care the handling of two twin girder spans for subsequent bridge launch within the construction site for the construction of the new Verona-Padua high-speed and high-capacity railway line (1st functional lot Verona-Vicenza junction), near San Bonifacio (VR).

The lot is part of the new line that will contribute to the modernization of transport in Northern Italy: with its 76.5 km in length, the entire line will allow people and goods to travel sustainably along the Turin-Milan-Venice transversal. With over 3 million passengers expected per year, the line crosses 22 municipalities and represents a great development accelerator for Italy.

The metal structure, 80 m long and weighing 280 tons, were moved on two different days over a distance of approximately 400 m, each using two 10-axle Goldhofer SPMTs with Power Pack Units from a storage area to the launch point, using the ordinary road network (interdicted to traffic through a special ordinance).

Subsequently the structure were bolted from one side to another 13 m appendix, reaching a total length of almost 100 m, before being lifted and positioned at the launching point.

The challenges

The dual handling project was very complex and required a careful preliminary study by our technical office, which identified the necessary solution for its implementation.

The main complexity addressed is linked to the geometry of the building: long, off-centre, of considerable size, with irregular sections and tapered. In order for the handling to take place, specific height support structures were designed and built on the instructions of our technical office to guarantee safe transport, equalizing the weights and limiting dynamic oscillations.

Furthermore, the alignment of the self-propelled bridge assembly was performed by topographic measurement with a low margin of error. The steering of the two SPMTs took all these variables into consideration, which made handling complex.

The handling complied with the limits imposed for the passage of the convoy on an existing bridge, which had transit requirements (centred passage, weight limit and weight per axle). This maximized the order of precision with which all movements were coordinated. Furthermore, for a few metres, the artifact was moved on one side on SPMT and on the other anchored to a telescopic crane to reduce the pressure on the ground of the beam-SPMT assembly.

The main challenge was to create the movement with the proposed configuration of "only" 20 axes. This solution has allowed the customer to optimize the costs of the activity.

Creativity in the transport solution

Our creative approach to finding transportation solutions made this complex project possible. We are always ready to face new challenges and successfully overcome them, thanks to our expertise.

Construction site safety

Marraffa pays the utmost attention to the safety of its operators, of the load handled and of the people involved in the operations, guaranteeing a highly safe working environment. The entire project was carried out in total safety, in full compliance with the regulations currently in force (Legislative Decree 81/2008), including that on the correct anchoring of loads on our means of transport as per the UNI EN 12195-1 standard.

In particular, our Safety Office, following its qualification at the customer's premises, has drawn up a detailed Operational Safety Plan (POS), concerning the activity to be carried out for handling, prescribing the PPE necessary to use and the protection measures from take to avoid any accident.