The rehabilitation of the Huccorgne Viaduct, located on the E42/A15 motorway between Liège and Namur in Belgium, has been substantially completed. The full reopening of the motorway on three lanes in both directions will be effective as from Sunday 30 July. The project, which was the largest motorway renovation site in the region for the past couple of years, was carried out by BESIX, with its partner Galère, on behalf of SOFICO and the Service public Wallon Mobilité & Infrastructures, the entities responsible for the road network infrastructure in the Walloon Region.
The viaduct, which carries an average daily traffic of 60,000 vehicles, consists of two parallel structures, one in the direction of Liège and the other in the direction of Namur. The total length of the viaduct is 547 meters and it has a height of 60 meters.
The rehabilitation project included the replacement of the beams, the deck, and the support structure, as well as new waterproofing and surfacing. Sound walls were also installed.
Preparatory works began in August 2021. In January 2022, renovation work on the bridge supporting the lanes in the direction of Namur-Liège began and was completed in July 2022. The rest of the year was spent rehabilitating the bridge piers. Finally, in January 2023, the rehabilitation of the viaduct deck in the direction of Liège-Namur began and is now complete. This marks the end of this challenging renovation project.
Minimising disruption to traffic was a major challenge. Thanks to meticulous planning, two lanes of traffic could be maintained in each direction throughout the project. The plan was monitored daily to ensure that the project was completed on time.
Jean-François Deswijsen, Operations Manager Wallonia-Luxembourg: “Timing and planning were essential in this project, as traffic had to be maintained at all times. We proposed a plan that would minimise traffic disruption, and we are proud to say that we even finished slightly ahead of schedule. The project was extremely well-prepared, and there was excellent communication and collaboration with SOFICO/SPW, ARCADIS, and SECO. This is essential for large infrastructure projects like this, where timing is tight and unforeseen challenges are inevitable. I would like to thank our partners, subcontractors, and suppliers for their contributions to the success of this project.”
Another challenge was the removal and replacement of 2 x 36 concrete beams for both directions of the viaduct, each 30 meters long and weighing 60 tonnes. This operation was carried out with the largest cranes available, which could lift the beams up to 60 meters high.
Jean-François Deswijsen: “On windy days, the wind was monitored every hour to determine if it was safe to lift the beams. If the wind was too strong, work was postponed until the evening or night, so that the schedule could be maintained.”
The completion of the Huccorgne Viaduct rehabilitation project is a major milestone for the road network in the Walloon Region. The project has significantly improved the safety and durability of the viaduct, and it will ensure that it continues to serve the traveling public for many years to come.
