Feeding System of the Segments in the Main Span for the New Champlain Cable-Stayed Bridge

The construction of the main span of the new champlain bridge presents two main challenges. The first one corresponds to the construction schedule, as the bridge has to be opened within 2018. The second one is the requirement to minimize any impact on the seaway channel traffic during construction. The aim of this paper is to explain how those challenges have influenced and led to the elaboration of an innovative erection scheme designed to feed the gantry at the tip of the deck without interfering with the navigation channel. The system consists of a movable lifting beam, which lifts the segment up to the deck. The segment is then transferred to a trolley system which delivers it to the tip traveling underneath the deck. Finally, the segment is received by a dynamic lifting frame, which holds the segment at the tip of the deck until it is bolted.