ASTRA bridge - resurfacing underneath running traffic

[Bristol]

It's back in use after they fixed the incline of the ramps - the first version had them too steep, so trucks sometimes got stuck.

Youtube video from ASTRA, the Swiss Highways Agency

100m a day, then divert all traffic to the hard shoulder overnight and roll the whole thing forward.

[jnty]

Interesting idea, though I assume it's extremely expensive. I also noticed a few headroom issues...

[Bryn666]

I can see it having applications on motorways here where closing lanes is politically unacceptable but works have to still be delivered. It does scream hugely expensive and there is the issue of overhead structures to contend with.

[RichardA35]

I can see it having applications on motorways here where closing lanes is politically unacceptable but works have to still be delivered. It does scream hugely expensive and there is the issue of overhead structures to contend with.

I wonder how many carriageway or lane closures are needed for the installation and moving of the structure. It also appears to have little impact protection at the piers so there is likely an extended closure while the structure is erected rather than an interim situation where the partially complete structure has traffic adjacent to it.

[Bryn666]

I can see it having applications on motorways here where closing lanes is politically unacceptable but works have to still be delivered. It does scream hugely expensive and there is the issue of overhead structures to contend with.

I wonder how many carriageway or lane closures are needed for the installation and moving of the structure. It also appears to have little impact protection at the piers so there is likely an extended closure while the structure is erected rather than an interim situation where the partially complete structure has traffic adjacent to it.

I seem to recall from previous videos about this they could mobilise it overnight, there are questions about the impact protection from the other carriageway though for sure. The Swiss motorway network has even less resilience than ours as there are often only singular mountain passes available to divert traffic onto so I suspect their priority is keeping lanes open come what may?

[Fenlander]

That must be a very noisy place to work.

[Chris5156]

It's very clever but it must be an agonisingly slow way to resurface a whole carriageway over any sort of distance. Thanks for sharing the link!

[Big L]

It’s impressive.

I still have fond memories of being a passenger in a car on a motorway in or near Stockholm. Mid rush-hour, there was a convoy of vehicles trundling up a middle lane, headed by a vehicle stripping off the existing top layer and tailed by a roller, just relaying the surface of one lane while traffic passed either side.

[Bristol]

I wonder how many carriageway or lane closures are needed for the installation and moving of the structure.

Installing and dismantling requires 2 nights each of full carriageway closure. There's a video of them installing it on the same channel.

Moving the structure by 100m (as that's how long the effective work area is underneath) takes 1 night and can be done with traffic down to one lane and moved over to the hard shoulder.

Although it's hugely expensive, it's designed for a country where you have to pay the workers Swiss wages, and that includes extra rates for nights and overtime. Unpaid overtime is illegal* and enforced over in Switzerland. Suddenly it seems more reasonable by comparison.

(*) Exceptions apply, but none of them for road workers.