Giant crane swings into action on the M74

The biggest mobile crane in Europe was used to successfully position seven huge steel beams across the River Clyde during construction of one of the largest structures on the M74 Completion project in Glasgow.

The beams, which each weigh between 250 and 330 tonnes, will support the Auchenshuggle Bridge at the eastern end of the 8km scheme to link the M74 with the M8 in Glasgow city centre.

The 1,600-tonne crane was delivered in sections by more than 100 vehicles and took a week to construct.

The beams, the longest of which is 86.5 metres, are each made up of five steel box girders and were assembled on site before being lifted into place.

The Auchenshuggle Bridge will carry both carriageways of the new road and is the only one of the project’s 13 major structures that crosses over water.

During a visit to site Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said:

“The commencement of steel erection for the Auchenshuggle Bridge is another significant milestone in the construction of the M74 Completion project. The fact that Europe’s largest mobile crane is needed to carry out the work shows what a complex civil engineering operation it is.”

Other visitors included pupils from Cairns Primary School in Cambuslang who have been taking a keen interest in construction of the bridge. Assisted by our team, they have investigated a range of issues associated with construction, transport and the local environment.