Report on the demolition of the B44 bridge over motorway A3

At the junction “Frankfurt/Main Süd” near Frankfurt/Main, Germany, the interstate road B44 crosses the motorway A3. One half this bridge was torn down in the night from March 29. to March 30. 2003, because the structure wasn’t stable enough anymore. For this purpose, both the B44 and A3 were closed down completely for about 20 hours, what, of course, lead to large traffic jams.

The job was done by Chantré Abbruch of Neu-Isenburg, Germany, which used the following equipment:

• Liebherr R 912 Litronic
• Komatsu PC210LC-6 with concrete crusher
• Komatsu PC340LC-6 with changable boom (short boom mounted), at first with standard bucket and with conrete cutter later
• Komatsu PC340NLC-6 with hammer
• Komatsu PC340LC-7 at first wie standard bucket, and with conrete cutter later
• Komatsu PC400LC with hammer
• Komatsu PC450LC-6 with concrete cutter
• Komatsu PC600-6 with concrete cutter
• Wheel loader Caterpillar 938G
• Wheel loader Komatsu WA470-5
• Articulated dump truck Volvo A20

Here are some pictures from the jobsite, ordered chronologically:

The PC400LC crushing the asphalt on the southern side.	Both PC340LC (the one with changeable boom is shown) removed sand from the bridge heads at first.	The largest machines (PC450LC and PC600) removed the walkway at the bridge. In the background, the PC340LC crushes the pavement at the northern side of the bridge.
The PC600 is finished with the walkway on the southern side.	The PC210LC has removed the walkway from the southern bridge head.	The Volvo A20 is used to remove scrap from the site.
The PC600 starts biting through the first of four girders. In foreground, the PC210LC is loading scrap on the Volvo.	PC600 and PC400LC have teamed up in order to crush the reinforced concrete more effectively.	It seems as if the WA470 was used to spread the sand on the motorway.
Loading the dump truck. Note the larger front wheel (compared to the two rear wheels).	The PC450LC cutting the reinforcement and the tethers.	The PC600 at work. The massive reinforcement and the tethers are clearly visible.
The PC340LC, PC340NLC and PC450LC are working together on the first girder at the northern side.	Again the PC600 and PC400LC as a team.	The PC400LC is removing the stone cladding at the south side.
The PC450LC is putting some scrap aside with its big cutter.	The brand-newPC340LC-7 is moving from the southern to the northern side.	The PC600 is cutting iron.
The PC340LC has removed a part of the northern bearing.	PC340NLC and PC450LC are working together on the medium bearing of the first girder.	The first girder is now removed completely.
The PC450LC in the red of the setting sun.	The PC340NLC is working on the northern bridge head.	The Liebherr machine was removing sand from the southern bridge head the whole time.
The PC600 encountered trouble with its hydraulics is getting repaired.	The crushed pavement.	The mounting of the concrete crusher on the PC340LC-7 is almost finished.