The 4000 tonne lift of Stonecutters Bridge steel back-spans, H.K.

A heavy-lift scheme has been developed for the erection of the 88 m long steel deck sections around the towers of Stonecutters Bridge. With 4000 t lifted to a height of 80 m and subsequent sliding operations in two directions, this operation became one of the most substantial heavy lifts ever undertaken on a cable-stayed bridge project. The scheme utilised the concrete back-spans and the bridge towers as lifting points. This required detailed checking of the combined effects on the permanent works, design of substantial temporary works and partial strengthening of the permanent works. Implementation of the scheme effectively eliminated the need for self-contained vertical support structures for the deck erection. This paper describes the development of the erection procedures, the design of temporary and permanent works, aerodynamic analyses and geometry control methods. The actual implementation of the scheme is also outlined, along with load testing and typhoon measures.