At the end of last week, ÖBB, Austria’s state-owned railway company, completed the relocation of a 1,400-ton railway bridge in Innsbruck, moving it almost 100 meters at ground level in one of the most complex technical operations recently carried out on an urban railway construction site.
The operation took place in Innsbruck, where the new Rauchmühle bridge was moved and positioned with millimetre precision over Hallerstraße without the use of heavy-duty cranes.
An engineering balancing act
The structure of the new Rauchmühle bridge was built in the preceding months near its final location in order to minimize traffic disruptions. Together with the auxiliary structures, the assembly reached an impressive weight of approximately 1,400 tons.
Before the move, the bridge was raised more than 5 meters above the ground using special hydraulic presses. On Sunday morning, the key phase followed: the actual movement of the structure to its final position.
For this stage, ÖBB representatives used self-propelled transport platforms (SPMTs), a solution commonly found in heavy industry.
A total of 12 mobile units, with 56 axles and 112 individually controlled wheels, transported the Rauchmühle bridge at a speed of 1–2 km/h.
After a rotation of approximately 90 degrees, the structure was placed millimetrically on its final supports.
Why no cranes?
The chosen method has several advantages:
- it reduces the risks associated with heavy lifting;
- it allows for much finer control of positioning;
- it limits the impact on the dense urban area surrounding the construction site.
For a busy railway junction such as Innsbruck, this solution was considered optimal.
Work continues
The following are scheduled for the coming days:
- installation of bearings;
- final work on supports;
- railway equipment;
- preparation for commissioning of the bridge.
Until these are completed, rail traffic on the section between Rum and Innsbruck Central Station will remain suspended, with alternative bus transport provided. The blockade is scheduled to last until January 29.
Why a new bridge was necessary
The old railway bridge in the Rauchmühle area, which had been in operation for over 60 years, had reached the end of its technical service life. Approximately 270 trains crossed the structure every day, and the combination of heavy traffic and alpine weather conditions accelerated the wear and tear of the metal structure.
The new bridge, made of concrete, is designed for:
- a significantly longer service life;
- reduced noise levels;
- a more stable and comfortable ride for trains.
A few figures to put things into perspective
1,400 tons – total weight of the bridge
5.13 meters – the height to which it was lifted for positioning
12 SPMTs, 56 axles, 112 individually controlled wheels
29 meters – the span of the bridge
11.25 meters – the total width
100 meters of railway track dismantled and reinstalled
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