Johnson Arabia has completed the installation of 18 precast concrete girders as part of the UAE’s highway bridge expansion project on the E75 road between Al Faya and Saih Shuaib in the country.

The lifting operation involved individual girder loads of up to 62 tonnes, with each beam required to be installed at a height of approximately 10 metres and an 18-metre working radius. The work was further complicated by the location of the crane beside the E22, the main road connecting Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, while the girders were being installed on the elevated E75 roadway above.

Meticulous crane selection

Johnson Arabia was appointed as the lifting contractor and selected a 400-tonne Liebherr LR 1400 crawler crane for the operation. The selection followed an engineering assessment of the loads, working radius, site constraints and restricted operating schedule.

“Precise crane selection and lift sequencing were essential to safely delivering the operation within the site and time constraints. The crane had to be positioned next to the main road to perform lifts for the expansion of another road bridge above it,” said Sreethu Thulaseedharan, Engineering Manager at Johnson Arabia.