Home advantage for MCE: Floating components out to the New Danube Bridge in Linz

The consortium, comprising of steel construction company MCE GmbH, a member of the HABAU GROUP, STRABAG AG, and PORR Bau GmbH, was commissioned by the provincial capital Linz to build the New Danube Bridge in Linz in June 2018. The large P2 components were floated out to site on 24 February 2021, giving the green light for the final structure to be assembled. MCE had already begun with the pre-assembly of the prefabricated steel components in September 2019. The two large components are now at the pre-assembly site, ready to be floated out .

Easing inner-city traffic congestion

Pre-2016, this site was home to an old two-lane railway bridge for crossing the Danube. After 116 years, it was now past its technical prime and was is in need of demolishing. The New Linz Danube Bridge, a steel composite bridge for rail freight, is to be completed by the end of 2021. The new Danube crossing will include two lanes for private motorised transport, bus lanes as well as walkways and cycle paths on the downstream and upstream sides.

This project is not only significant for the provincial capital Linz due to the considerable relief it offers in terms of traffic congestion. It is also a considerable achievement for MCE and represents a milestone in the company’s history.

Sizeable structures are floated out to site

MCE had already begun with the pre-assembly of the prefabricated steel components in September 2019. The two large components are now at the pre-assembly site, ready to be floated out . As part of the ‘floating out’ process, the steel structures, each weighing 2,800 tonnes, at over 100 metres long and 32 metres wide, are hoisted onto the necessary pontoons using special transport equipment. These pontoons are then dragged into position with ropes and the bridge sections are moved into their final position on the pillars. This process is particularly important because, once the sections are in position, the true overall impact of the bridge becomes clear.

“For one, we are faced with the challenge of moving steel bridge sections weighing over 2,500 tonnes, but then we also have to take care to ensure and deliver the bridge’s architectural design in a functional way. A challenge on our front doorstep, that we’re all relishing,” explains MCE Managing Director Dieter Reitz.

The CEO of the HABAU GROUP, Hubert Wetschnig, is also enthusiastic: “Being tasked with delivering such a significant project once again highlights MCE’s expertise. Floating out the components really bears testament to our skill set.” The New Danube Bridge in Linz is scheduled to open to traffic in the fourth quarter of 2021.