Mammoet helps bridge start new life

Mammoet has relocated a century-old railway bridge about five miles to the northern suburbs of Chicago, USA, giving the bridge a second life as a cycle path.

The bridge was 65.5 feet long, 29.5 feet tall and weighs 89 tons. It once carried an elevated rail line about 13 feet over Ashland Avenue, but has lain abandoned for 50 years.

Working closely with its client, Walsh Construction Company, Mammoet crews transported the bridge to its new home in about two hours, travelling at walking speed.

Mammoet focused on the engineering involved, with Walsh providing additional personnel. The project required the use of two 10-line self-propelled modular transporters, four point jacking system, using 57Te climbing jacks and steel mats.

The relocated, refurbished and repainted bridge will form part of the new Bloomingdale Trail, built on (the same) closed railway, and due to open to the public in 2015.