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The lifting operation near Amsterdam placed 19 concrete beams next to the A9 highway, in a bridge assembly that brought together giant pieces, little maneuvering space, exact sequence of arrival, and pressure for speed in an area where any delay can affect the pace of the work
Instead of one beam at a time over weeks, a project near Amsterdam placed 19 concrete beams in sequence on the same day next to the A9 highway. The pieces were up to 31.5 meters long and weighed up to 60.5 tons.
The information was released by Heavy Lift News, a portal specialized in heavy lifts. The operation involved Sarens, a heavy lifting and transport company, working for Romein Beton.
The case draws attention because it shows how a bridge can take shape at an accelerated pace when transport, crane, team, and order of arrival work together. On a highway, each work window needs to be utilized with precision.
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How a project manages to place 19 concrete beams in just one day
An operation of this size does not rely solely on brute force. Before any beam leaves the ground, the team needs to know where the crane will be, where the trucks will circulate, and which piece will be lifted first.
The 19 concrete beams weighed between 42 and 60.5 tons. This volume requires a very well-defined sequence because a piece out of place can block the arrival of the next ones.
Each movement also needs to be fast enough to maintain the pace of the work, but slow enough to avoid mistakes. In heavy lifts, speed without control can become a risk.
Why the order of arrival of the beams changes everything in a bridge
The beams are central parts of a bridge’s structure. They help form the base that will later receive other stages of the construction.
When a beam measures up to 31.5 meters, it cannot simply be left anywhere on the site. A piece of this size takes up space, complicates maneuvers, and can delay the assembly sequence.
Therefore, each beam needs to arrive in the correct order. Thus, the crane lifts the piece, positions it in the planned location, and clears the area for the next one. This flow explains how the operation managed to advance with 19 pieces in the same day.
The risk of working near the A9 highway lies in the limited space and pressure on the ground
Lifting beams next to a highway requires more care than in an open area. The available space is smaller, and each piece of equipment needs to be in a safe position.
The operation faced a significant challenge: working with limited area for the crane and controlling the pressure on the equipment’s supports. These supports are the parts that keep the crane stable while it lifts the load.
When a beam weighs up to 60.5 tons, the weight is not just in the air. Part of the force also goes to the ground through the crane. Therefore, calculating stability is essential to avoid problems during the lifting.
Crane worked at a 31-meter radius to lift beams of up to 60.5 tons
The lifting was done at a 31-meter radius. In simple terms, this means the distance between the crane’s pivot point and the point where the beam is lifted or placed.
The greater this distance, the more delicate the work becomes. A heavy load needs to be moved with control because any sway can complicate positioning.
This information was published on May 20, 2025, by Heavy Lift News, a portal specialized in lifting and heavy transport. The operation took place at the end of April 2025, near the A9 highway in the Netherlands.
The lifting began at 07:00 and focused on placing the 19 concrete beams on the same day. The pieces were up to 31.5 meters long and had a maximum weight of 60.5 tons.
The complete operation lasted three days, but the hoisting was concentrated in just one
Although the beams were placed in just one day, the complete operation lasted three days. There was one day for mobilization, one day for hoisting, and one day for demobilization.
Mobilization is the phase of arrival and preparation of the equipment. It is when the crane and the team are positioned so that the service happens without improvisation.
Then comes demobilization, when the equipment leaves the site. Even so, the most remarkable moment was the day when the 19 concrete beams were lifted in sequence.
What happens after the beams are in place
After the beams are positioned, the bridge is not yet ready. They form an essential part of the structure, but the work needs to proceed with new stages until it receives the necessary finish.
The update of the stretch near the A9 highway shows how infrastructure works depend on precise fittings. Each piece placed in position releases the next phase.
Jaap Zwarthoed summarized the result of the operation in a straightforward statement: “The team executed each stage with professionalism and efficiency. The operation was smooth, safe, and a perfect example of Sarens’ capabilities in high-precision lifting under logistical constraints.”
The operation near Amsterdam shows that a bridge is not born just from concrete. It depends on planning, order of arrival, prepared ground, stable crane, and a team capable of repeating difficult movements without losing precision.
When 19 beams of up to 60.5 tons are placed in a single day next to a highway, the question arises: would you trust more in a work done so quickly or be suspicious of such speed?
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