Imminent arrival of Sustainable Transport Bridge significant milestone in North Quays Public Infrastructure Project
The imminent arrival of the bridge’s steel superstructure from its fabrication plant in Belgium will mark a significant progress milestone for Waterford’s North Quays Public Infrastructure Project. The superstructure is due to arrive in Waterford in the coming weeks for lifting and installation. In parallel with the construction of the bridge substructure in the river in Waterford, the steel superstructure has been in the process of manufacture in Victor Buyck’s bespoke steel fabrication plant in Belgium.
The slender and streamlined superstructure has been architecturally designed, with a curved soffit on the underside, and varying width along its length to allow for viewing/resting areas etc. This bespoke shape makes it ideal for precision factory fabrication. 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 has required the manufacture and assembly of mechanical, hydraulic and electrical components and instrumentation. Qualter Hall, based in England, is the subcontractor responsible for this work, and the automated system has been installed into the fabricated bridge sections by Qualter Hall’s engineers at the Victor Buyck factory. The bridge sections will therefore 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 sub-contracted to Hebo, a Dutch company that specialises in these operations for bridges, shipping, ports, offshore wind turbines, etc. The four bridge sections will be transported on two barges pulled by seagoing tugboats. Victor Buyck’s plant is located beside the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal which accesses out to the North Sea. 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 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. Temporary support frames that have been constructed in the river will initially support the sections pending their final integration into the permanent supporting piers. Safety is of paramount importance, and the lifting operation has very precise safety protocols and requires very slow and methodical progress with constant checks and monitoring during the operation.
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 timelines for the operation are subject to change and disruption depending on conditions on the open seas.
The public infrastructure project is being developed ahead of the private SDZ development and the built interface between the two developments must be fully integrated and compatible. The fast-tracking of integration works as part of construction of the SDZ will facilitate the opening of the bridge to the public in Q4 2026.
For further information visit www.waterfordnorthquays.ie
