Hesperange builds a bridge overnight

(ADW) At a weight of 40 tonnes, five steel beams were laid in the early hours of Wednesday in Hesperange. These form the basic framework for half of the new “Alzettebrücke” bridge.

Precision and great concentration were the challenges faced by workers with their 700 tonne crane to manoeuvre the nearly 30-metre long beams into place.

And they managed it, as of 7:30am, traffic was already flowing through Hesperange centre. Motorists had feared that the construction work would block their morning route. In fact the original plan was to reopen the N3 at midday on Wednesday as it was thought that thunderstorms could delay the construction process, but everything seemed to run smoothly.

Three and a half hours for special transporter

Shortly after 9pm on Tuesday the first special transporter was ready to roll in to Hesperange. Several dozen spectators were present when the first bridge section floated high above the Alzette. Accuracy at this first stage of bridge construction is crucial as all following elements are laid on and around the first. Get the first part wrong, it all goes wrong!

Following on from the first, three more beam sections were laid two centimetres apart from each other. At about 6am, the task was complete and the road reopened.

However, work continued and and final cross-piece was laid on Wednesday morning at about 10am. All the beams are now in the process of being welded together which should take a couple of weeks.