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Ainscough Crane Hire’s Heavy Cranes Division has installed a footbridge connecting the northern and southern banks of the River Great Ouse in Bedford.
The 55 metre single-span bridge was designed, manufactured and installed by specialist designer, CTS Bridges based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
Linking a £50 million residential and leisure development on the northern bank and a tranquil landscaped area and riverside footpath to the south, the white tubular steel bridge provides the first pedestrian only crossing of the river in the town.
Using a Liebherr LTM1750-9.1, the Ainscough team were on site for three days first positioning the bridge’s piers before undertaking the main lift of the single-span bridge. The distance from the lift pad to the opposite bank required the crane to be configured with a 59.5 metre fly jib and 204 tonne counterweight.
Andrew Winter, Operations Director said: “The defining element of this lift was the distance between the river banks. The lift pad was set back from the bank by 5 – 10 metres and we were working in close proximity to the town’s Magistrate Court complex and a live construction site.
“We delivered the lift for the customer exactly as planned and we were very pleased with how it turned out.”
Photo : Lee Elliott Photography
