Bridge installed from barge over River Clyde, Scotland

Sarens was contracted to transport the south and north sections of this bridge from Europe and install them in Renfrew, on the 122-m long Caroline barge, towed by a tug and pushed by Seacontractors’ Sea Bronco in Q3 2024.

These two 1,600-tonne sections are part of the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside Swing Bridge project. This bridge is due to open for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists before the end of the year.

Sarens was contracted by Smulders to transport two sections of 92 m long, 18 m wide and 38 m high from the Netherlands. The south bridge was constructed by Hollandia Infra in Rotterdam and the north section by Smulders in Flushing.

Sarens deployed its barge Caroline, 26 ballast pumps with capacity of 600 tonnes/hour, and six hydraulic winches of 50 tonnes each. 

For the installation, self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) were used in various configurations along with roro ramps.

The south bridge in Rotterdam was transported to the quayside using six 10-axle SPMTs, lifted by three shearlegs, and loaded onto Caroline. After securing the load, the barge was towed by tug to Glasgow, where pre-assembled SPMTs were used to move the bridge to its final position on temporary jacks.

The north bridge in Flushing was transported to the quayside using 32-axle SPMTs, driven onto the barge during a load-out operation, and towed to Glasgow, where its installation was similar to the south section.

The project involved 14 Sarens personnel, working in double shifts to minimise the barge’s presence in the river navigation channel in Glasgow. Due to a limited water depth, a ramp structure on piles bridged the gap between the barge and quay, with the longest gap being around 18 m.

In July, the Renfrew Bridge was linked up for the first time and was successfully tested. Contractors Graham and HIJV, a Hollandia Infra-Iemants joint venture, tested the bridge’s operational safety.