British-built excavator to the fore during weekend viaduct possession in Germany.
A JCB JS290 XD tracked excavator ensured minimal disruption to German rail schedules completing the demolition of a viaduct crossing tracks near Dresden over a weekend.
Purchased specifically for this role by Röderau-based demolition specialist, Maik & Toni Müller GmbH, the JCB worked through the night, allowing time for tracks to be re-laid and the rail schedule to commence as normal at 7am on the Monday morning – ensuring the region’s businesses were not affected.
Located in Fischbach, the historic viaduct was built early in the 20th century and carried part of the S159 main road which connects Dresden with East Saxony and Wroclaw in Poland. Spanning the Görlitz-Dresden rail line, the viaduct was demolished as part of a scheme to widen a key 650-metre section of the road. It will be replaced by a modern bridge scheduled for completion in autumn 2012.
While this section of the road will be closed during the construction period, the awarding authority for the original tender – The Free State of Saxony – stipulated that rail traffic should not be greatly disrupted. Therefore, the final phase of the demolition above the rail tracks was allocated a narrow window of just 48 hours from Friday night to Sunday evening.
Maik & Toni Müller GmbH, which purchased the new JCB JS290 XD from local JCB dealer Fischer-Jung, was commissioned by lead contractors on the project – Eurovia Verkehrsbau Union GmbH and Säshsische Bau GmbH. Eurovia also hired a range of additional JCB equipment from Fischer-Jung for the duration of the road improvement project. This included: JS200, JS220 and JS240 tracked excavators, a JS145W wheeled excavator, a 416HT wheeled loading shovel, an 8030 mini excavator and JCB Vibromax VM132 tandem roller. These machines worked across the demolition and construction phases including supporting roles to the JS290 XD on this crucial weekend demolition phase.
Once the preparation has been completed, the JCB JS290 XD levelled the viaduct frame – removing the top sections then digging out the foundations. It utilised a range of attachments including hydraulic breaker, shear and pulveriser to carry out the demolition tasks. It was then fitted with a sorting grab and worked in tandem with the JCB 416HT and VMT132 models to clear away rubble and prepare the area for the re-laying of the tracks.
