German heavy lifting specialist Autokrane Schares has completed the removal of a bridge section in Berlin using a new lifting system for the first time. The project involved removing a 60-meter-long section of the Marggraff Bridge, weighing 1,500 tonnes, over the Britzer Verbindungs Canal.

The presence of overhead power lines and limited space at the busy intersection necessitated a lifting solution that minimised disruption. Autokrane Schares put its recently acquired Enerpac JS-250 jack-up system to good use.

The compact design of the JS-250 allowed for its installation on the narrow canal towpath. The bridge deck was sectioned to create space for positioning the jack-up tower bases and beams. Additional jack-up tower components were then added from a pontoon positioned on the canal.

Synchronized lifting of the bridge section was achieved using interconnected pumps, ensuring stability throughout the operation.

The 1,500-tonne bridge deck was removed in three stages over two weeks. For each stage, the JS-250 raised the bridge section 3 meters, allowing it to be transferred onto pontoons positioned beneath. The bridge section was then floated to a nearby site for dismantling.

Space restrictions at the site made this a very challenging project,” said Max Boere, Team Leader SPMT, Autokrane Schares. “The compactness and ease of set-up, together with accurate synchronised lifting, made the Enerpac JS-250 a perfect fit for this project.”