Narrow jetties and water below: SCC3200T-1 crawlers on the Fremantle Traffic Bridge replacement
Two 320-tonne SANY SCC3200T-1 crawler cranes are working on the replacement of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge in Western Australia, chosen in large part because they can operate without outriggers on narrow temporary jetties.
The project
The replacement of the historic Fremantle Traffic Bridge forms part of the Swan River Crossings Project, which will put Australia’s first extradosed bridge in place of the ageing structure. The new crossing uses cantilevers and cable support to improve road capacity and increase clearance for vessels on the river.
The work is being delivered by the Fremantle Bridges Alliance, a consortium of Arup, WSP and Laing O’Rourke, and has to be reconciled with road traffic, port and freight movements, heritage constraints and environmental conditions on the river.
Why the SCC3200T-1
The SCC3200T-1 has a 320-tonne capacity, a 75-metre main boom and a 43-metre luffing jib, and is powered by a Tier 5 dual-slew Cummins QSL8.9-C325 engine. The decisive feature on this site, though, is that it works without outriggers: the 8.18-metre wide crawler spreads its load across the track and suits operation from the narrow temporary jetties built out over the water.
“The ground-bearing aspect of a job like this is sensitive, as the cranes are basically going to be working over water.”
— Paul Marshall, national cranes manager, Select Plant Australia
Four SANY cranes are on site in total, the two SCC3200T-1s plus two SCE4800A machines. Construction is running in two phases: temporary jetty construction, permanent piling and the start of tower construction first, then demolition of the old bridge. The cranes are used across both phases for pile installation, foundation work and setting precast concrete shells.
Cab and operator feedback
Operator response has centred on the cab, which has a large window raked at 20 degrees for a panoramic view, a 10.4-inch touchscreen and a floating adjustable seat, plus integrated cameras, adjustable lighting, air conditioning and a radio.
“The cabin features are user-friendly and not overcomplicated, making it easier for operators to focus on the task at hand.”
— Paul Marshall, national cranes manager, Select Plant Australia
Select has since added four more SANY telescopic crawlers and a SANY battery energy storage system to its fleet.
Marshall said the SCC3200T-1s suited the job and would be central both to erecting the new structure and to taking the old bridge down, and pointed to SANY’s work with the contractor on lower-emission site power alongside the crane supply.
Source: Sany — Photos: Sany
Crane facts
- Cranes: 2 x SANY SCC3200T-1 crawler
- Capacity: 320 t
- Main boom: 75 m, plus 43 m luffing jib
- Engine: Tier 5 Cummins QSL8.9-C325, dual slew
- Track width: 8.18 m, no outriggers required
- Also on site: 2 x SCE4800A
- Project: Fremantle Traffic Bridge replacement, Swan River Crossings