Moving a bridge 3,400 tons and 400 meters long.

(si prefieres leer este articulo en español haz click aqui: http://ingjoseguerrero.blogspot.mx/2013/09/desplazando-un-puente-de-3400-toneladas.html)


With respect to the construction and maintenance of bridges sometimes you have to make judgments to determine which is more economically viable: if you design and build a new one or give some maintenance to one that has a few years life ahead.
Still, considering the second option, move a building of this type is not the most usual.

However, in Oregon, United States, was decided to move its axis a bridge, of a not inconsiderable 3,400 tons, some meters.
Sellwood Bridge is located in Portland, who traveled from place one piece, what makes this operation a feat of engineering.

Best of all is that those responsible for moving the bridge took the time to order a few shots with armed subsequently the time period shown in the video below, where you can see in a few seconds an action that took a lot of planning and care.

The reason why the bridge was moved is that the pillars were so deteriorated that it was quite dangerous to pass through this bridge.
The point is to be torn down and build from scratch was more expensive than building new pillars to the side and move the bridge in one piece, something not easy considering that measures 400 meters.

A total of 40 hydraulic jacks were used, which together endured 6,000 tons, more than enough to carry the bridge, which gives us an individual capacity of 150 tons per jack.

With information from: The Presurfer.