Three Wolff 180 B luffing jib cranes are currently undertaking all heavy lifting operations, from formwork and reinforcement to concreter placement, on a major infrastructure development in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project involves the construction of two new cable-stayed bridges running parallel to the existing Wadi Laban Bridge, which served as the sole crossing point over the valley for over three decades.
Commissioned by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, the development is being executed by the ICRC joint venture, comprising Turkish contractor IC Ictas and Riyadh-based Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company (RTCC).
The three Wolff 180 B cranes were erected in 2025 using mobile cranes and are scheduled to remain operational on site until 2027. Fixed on foundation anchors, each unit is configured with a 40-m jib radius, a hook height of 157 m, and a maximum lifting capacity of 18 tonnes.
The cranes serve as the primary assets in constructing four bridge pylons that will reach heights of up to 170 m. Key lifting duties include handling climbing formwork systems, placing reinforcement, pouring concrete, and positioning working platforms or construction site gear including surveying equipment.
According to Wolffkran, the Swiss manufacturer of the cranes, a particular challenge was the simultaneous repositioning of several stacked working platforms when changing the formwork between different pylon sections, during which they utilised their maximum load capacity of 18 tonnes. As construction advances, the cranes will lift support beams weighing up to 12 tonnes to assist with pylon head concreting operations.
The twin bridge expansion forms part of Riyadh’s broader Main and Ring Road Axes Development Programme aimed at boosting traffic flow across key capital routes. Upon completion, each cable-stayed structure will span approximately 763 m in total length, featuring a 405-m main span and a 35-m width. Together, the new bridges will accommodate eight traffic lanes, expanding capacity along this arterial corridor.