Mammoet Installs 2,200-Tonne Budapest Railway Bridge in One Weekend

30-Second Takeaway

Mammoet installed a 2,200 tonne railway bridge span in Budapest using an engineered SPMT transport and launch method, allowing Soroksári út to reopen before Monday rush hour. Working with Hungarian contractor V-HID, the team moved the 108 metre-long south bridge into position using transporter-mounted support masts instead of temporary towers founded in the roadway. The operation deployed 176 SPMT axle lines across its different stages, with 144 axle lines supporting the structure in the final configuration. A second 2,200 tonne span is planned using a similar method, with tighter working space following installation of the first bridge.

Mammoet

Mammoet has completed the installation of the first span of the new Közvágóhíd railway bridge in Budapest, Hungary. The work forms part of the Ferencváros–Kelenföld railway capacity expansion project. Mammoet worked with V-HID to position the south bridge, a steel structure measuring 108 metres long and 20 metres wide. The bridge crosses Soroksári út, a major road into the Hungarian capital. Keeping the closure short was a central requirement, shaping the installation method from the outset.

SPMT Method Avoids Temporary Roadway Foundations

A conventional skidding approach would have required temporary support towers in the road. Mammoet instead developed a method using self-propelled modular transporters, with temporary support masts mounted directly onto the transporter sets.

The mobile supports could be repositioned beneath the advancing bridge, avoiding the need to drill deep foundations or construct fixed temporary supports in Soroksári út.

That approach enabled the installation to take place during a single weekend closure, reducing the disruption associated with preparing and removing conventional support structures.

Four Transporter Sets Work Across Two Levels

The launch involved four SPMT sets operating across upper and ground levels.

Initially, transporter units were positioned at the upper level to advance the bridge from the abutment. As the operation progressed, units were transferred to ground level using a 400 tonne mobile crane. Once reconfigured, each ground-level support set collected four temporary support masts and moved beneath the advancing structure. The sequence allowed the team to change the support arrangement as the bridge moved across the road, using the modular equipment at different stages of the launch.

176 Axle Lines Across the Complete Operation

Mammoet deployed 176 SPMT axle lines across the elevated launch and ground-level configurations. At the final stage, three support sets were positioned beneath the bridge. Each set comprised four 12-axle-line modules, providing 48 axle lines per set.

Together, those three sets accounted for 144 axle lines beneath the structure in the final configuration. The 176 figure covers the equipment deployed across the complete operation, rather than the final support arrangement alone. This distinction reflects the staged method, in which transporter units were moved and reconfigured as installation progressed.

Crane Mast Sections Form Mobile Supports

The temporary support structures incorporated sections from an MSG crane mast.

Four masts were mounted on each SPMT support set, with load spreaders positioned beneath them. The arrangement combined elevated support for the bridge with the ability to move those supports along the roadway. The transporter-mounted masts enabled the team to carry the structure progressively across Soroksári út while maintaining the support positions required by the installation sequence.

Jordy van der Hoeven, Project Manager at Mammoet, said:

“Our expertise and flexibility in terms of engineering solutions and equipment allows us to adapt to technical challenges.”

Road Reopens Before Monday Rush Hour

Soroksári út closed on Friday morning for the installation and reopened before Monday rush hour. Completing the work within that window allowed one of Budapest’s main road arteries to return to service after a single weekend. The outcome depended on coordinating the bridge launch, transporter reconfiguration and final positioning within the available closure period.

Second Span Will Face Tighter Working Space

A second 2,200 tonne span, forming the north bridge, will follow using a similar installation method. The completed south bridge will occupy part of the available working area, making the next operation more constrained. The planned sequence will therefore need to accommodate the reduced space while retaining the mobile support approach used for the first installation.

About Mammoet

Mammoet is a global specialist in engineered heavy lifting and transport, providing solutions for moving, installing and removing large structures and industrial equipment.

Its origins trace to a Dutch maritime business established in 1807. Subsequent development expanded its capabilities into integrated transport and installation, including moving large components from manufacturing locations to their final foundations. Mammoet merged with engineered heavy lifting company ALE in 2020.

The company supports energy, infrastructure, industrial and offshore projects. Its bridge installation services combine engineering with heavy lifting and transport equipment, enabling large structures to be assembled away from their final position and installed within short transport-network closures.

Official website: www.mammoet.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What bridge did Mammoet install?

Mammoet installed the south span of the new Közvágóhíd railway bridge in Budapest, working with V-HID.

How large was the bridge span?

The structure weighed 2,200 tonnes and measured 108 metres long and 20 metres wide.

How many SPMT axle lines were used?

A total of 176 axle lines were deployed across the operation. The final three support sets contained 144 axle lines.

Why were support masts mounted on SPMTs?

The mobile arrangement avoided fixed temporary support towers and deep foundations in the roadway, helping keep the road closure to one weekend.

Will another bridge span be installed?

Yes. A second 2,200 tonne span is planned using a similar method, with less working space available after the first installation.