Hareket lowers 160 ton Sazlıdere Bridge truss using strand jack system

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The dismantling and controlled lowering of a 160 ton temporary steel truss system at Sazlıdere Bridge has been completed following detailed engineering planning and execution by Hareket.

The structure had been installed to support the pylon cross beam during concrete casting works, acting as a critical temporary load bearing element while permanent structural components were completed. Once casting works finished, the challenge shifted from support to safe removal without compromising the finished pylon.

Rather than dismantling the truss piece by piece at height, engineers opted for a full controlled rotation and lowering operation. The method reduced work at elevation and improved overall safety exposure for crews.

The lifting plan centered on the use of two strand jack systems, each with a 200 ton lifting capacity and configured with 22 strands. A specially engineered 200 ton lifting beam and support frame distributed loads evenly during rotation and descent.

This approach allowed the entire steel system to be rotated and lowered in a single controlled sequence.

No drilling was required. No anchoring modifications were made to the completed pylon. For bridge engineers, that distinction matters. Any structural intervention after concrete curing introduces risk, rework, and regulatory scrutiny.

By designing an independent support arrangement, the project team preserved the integrity of the permanent structure while still managing heavy lift forces exceeding the truss deadweight once rigging loads were included.

Lowering a 160 ton steel cage is not simply a vertical lift in reverse. The geometry of the truss and its connection points required rotational control as well as vertical descent.

Using synchronized strand jack control, operators adjusted tension strand by strand to maintain balance. The system allowed millimetric movement control, particularly critical as the truss cleared the pylon interface zone.

One project engineer compared the maneuver to “opening a heavy steel gate in slow motion while suspended in the air,” highlighting the dual motion complexity.

The operation demonstrates how strand jack systems continue to replace conventional crane dismantling in bridge and heavy civil works, particularly where reach, height, or structural sensitivity limit crane positioning.

With pylons completed and temporary works removed, the bridge advances to its next construction phase without structural alteration to its primary load bearing elements.