The bridge – Pescara
SIMI Srl carried out a technically complex operation in Pescara, aimed at the dismantling and transport to demolition area of three steel beams belonging to a road bridge located above a high-speed railway line. The structure’s position directly above active tracks ruled out conventional in-situ demolition techniques, requiring a completely alternative approach based on controlled movements and night work, respecting the operational windows required for railway safety.
The operation began with the assembly of a temporary lifting structure, consisting of steel trusses, four 36-meter beams, four strand jacks, rollers, skidding tracks and two 6-axle SPMT, prepared for the safe handling and translation of the beams. The entire configuration was designed to operate in a highly constrained space and to ensure stability during all lifting and moving phases, without interfering with the railway line below.
Once the cutting of the upper deck, which connected the three beams, was completed, the individual lifting of each beam proceeded, each weighing approximately 200 tonnes, up to a height of 2 meters. At this height, the lateral translation via rollers began, which allowed the loading of the front part of the beam onto the first SPMT. From there, movement continued using a mixed configuration: front SPMT and rear rollers, which guided the beam’s movement outside the railway area. Once the critical zone was cleared, the rear part was also loaded onto a second SPMT, enabling complete transport to the demolition area.
The same procedure was repeated for the remaining two beams, with the same level of control and operational coordination. The operation was carried out entirely during night hours, between 22:00 and 04:00, to respect the traffic interruption windows on a high-speed railway line, while ensuring maximum safety for personnel and the infrastructure involved.
On subsequent nights, the dismantling of the temporary lifting structure previously installed was also carried out. This phase was completed using a 650-tonne mobile crane, used to safely remove the main components, including beams, trusses, and lifting systems.
The video shows the entire operational process, highlighting the high degree of technical planning, the integrated use of advanced technologies for heavy handling, and the efficiency with which a particularly delicate operation was completed in a high-criticality infrastructure context.
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For nearly half a century, SIMI has turned every logistics challenge into a work of precision. Founded on the insight and experience of Aldo Braconi, the company has built its reputation on solid expertise, passion for work well done, and the distinctly Italian ability to find ingenious solutions even to the most complex problems.
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