The Civil Engineering Contractor June 2019 | Page 19

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Abcon had to lift the steel spans almost
overnight, while leaving enough space
on the mezzanine floor to continue
working. That site remained the only
one where the work could be done,
according to the roads authority, so
cranes and skyhooks were brought
in for what Van Gool describes as a
Herculean task.
“However, our team pulled
through, and it is incredible what
they managed to achieve at the end of
the day. What this project has taught
us is that, no matter how careful the
planning, one must always allow for
contingencies at the end of the day,”
Van Gool adds. nn
List of professionals
Client: Grandprix Models
Structural steel: Fabcon Steel
major challenge was how to
accomplish it logistically: how to
erect it within the cost and time
frames. Barely two weeks before
the project was due to commence,
the client was informed that the
site next door could no longer be
used as a laydown area. With the
detailed programme in jeopardy
as a result, Van Gool and his
team undertook the herculean
task of a 75% acceleration of the
entire project cycle. Lifts and
installations that normally would
have taken two weeks to execute
were now scheduled for four to
five days.”
Gibson explains that he was aware
that his upgrade would immediately
make the vacant neighbouring stand
a more attractive acquisition – it
hadn’t been expected to happen
so soon.
The longest truss fabricated by Fabcon
Steel was 145m.
CEC June 2019 | 17