Vastly improving crossing safety for pedestrians and cyclists and linking two schools, the extra wide footbridge had to be fully accessible to all users regardless of age and ability. Appointed by McGrath Group, with whom the company had worked before, Radius Group Limited planned, managed and supervised the complex lifting operation lifting and positioning the bridge.
PRECISE INSTALLATION
Crane rigging had to be timed to perfection. Just to the challenge, the slinging arrangement on the bridge section had to be exact to enable the installation team to position the section maintaining a tolerance level of just 1mm either side.
The ground conditions had to be suitable to not only withstand the pressure exerted by a crane and support vehicle but also the ground upon which the riggers were set. To avoid damage to the nearby structures, a temporary crane base was installed to support each outrigger.

Weighing in at 35 tonnes and over 4.5m wide, this massive steel structure was designed and constructed by McGrath Bros Engineering of Northern Ireland and was assembled in a holding area before being transported on the night of the operation down to the Wilmer Way junction to be craned into position. Access was undeniably a challenge, given the location, and overnight short term road closure was essential in order to carry out this delicate operation, but disruption was kept to a minimum. Timing was a key element of the operation. Using a Liebherr LTM 1250-6 (250t Mobile Crane) with a 36.3m mainboom and 72.5 tonnes of counterweight we ensured that every step of the operation was timed to the minute to ensure that the crane was derigged and off site ready to open the Dual Carriageway in time for the morning traffic.
Utilizing full 3D Crane Planning software from the onset, planning with infinite precision and keeping health and safety issues paramount, we completed the project on time and on budget. Thoroughly satisfied with our exceptional work on the Bounds Green project, Skanska employed us for future work at the Olympics and also passed on our details to their sub-contractors on site at the Olympic Park.
Having worked with Radius on previous projects, I knew that having them on board meant that I could focus on other areas of the project such as the design and installation process, safe in the knowledge that the lifting was in hand.