VIS Group has completed the installation of the cofferdam for the right pylon of the Lena Bridge under construction in its design position on the riverbed. The special river operation began at 2 pm on August 19. The metal structure, weighing over 2,200 tons and standing 17.5 meters high, was towed 300 meters from the right bank to the designated location and secured with anchors. On August 21, at 2:38 am Yakutsk time, the cofferdam was sunk as scheduled for installation on the riverbed.
“The initial plan entailed the installation of only one cofferdam this season. However, recognizing the importance of meeting the bridge construction deadlines and taking into account all the climatic conditions in Yakutia, we decided to install two cofferdams in the riverbed this summer. This opened up a large-scale project to create pile foundations for two pylons at once. Drilling operations are already underway in the central pylon cofferdam,” commented Sergey Yudin, CEO of VIS Group.
The operation to place the right cofferdam comprised several stages. It was assembled on a special slipway on the left bank, then lowered into a floodable dock, and towed to the right bank on June 3. The Lena Basin Administration carried out the dredging, removing a total of 138,000 m³ of soil.
“Following the installation of the cofferdam, it became possible to work in the resulting dry zone. Drilling rigs will be housed inside on metal frames. A system of 102 guide pipes will be used to drill into the riverbed for the installation of bored piles,” explained Anton Krupnov, Director of Construction at OOO VIS Stroy.
The floating cofferdam technology was selected with regard for severe floods, intense ice drift, and the short construction season. This is the first time this method has been used in Russian bridge construction. Specialists from VIS Group and Morbaza successfully completed this challenging task and have already installed two cofferdams in the riverbed – one on the right bank and one in the center. River operations this summer were supported by the fleet of the Lena United River Shipping Company, Vitim-Les, the Yakutsk Shipping Company, and VIS Group's own vessels. A total of 19 vessels of various classes are engaged in the construction of the Lena Bridge.
The bridge's cable-stayed structure will be mounted on three pylons. The right and left pylons are each 194.5 meters high, with the center pylon being the highest. The bridge is 284.5 meters tall, comparable to a 90-story skyscraper. This is the first such engineering structure to be built in the Arctic permafrost zone. VIS Group is responsible for the design, construction, extra-budgetary financing, and operation of the bridge until 2048. It is being implemented under a concession agreement with the Government of Yakutia as part of the “Infrastructure for Life” national project. This format allowed for the attraction of a private investor and a significant reduction in budgetary funds during the construction phase. The share of extra-budgetary investment exceeds 47%, and reimbursement to the investor is spread over the entire term of the agreement with VIS Group.
“The initial plan entailed the installation of only one cofferdam this season. However, recognizing the importance of meeting the bridge construction deadlines and taking into account all the climatic conditions in Yakutia, we decided to install two cofferdams in the riverbed this summer. This opened up a large-scale project to create pile foundations for two pylons at once. Drilling operations are already underway in the central pylon cofferdam,” commented Sergey Yudin, CEO of VIS Group.
The operation to place the right cofferdam comprised several stages. It was assembled on a special slipway on the left bank, then lowered into a floodable dock, and towed to the right bank on June 3. The Lena Basin Administration carried out the dredging, removing a total of 138,000 m³ of soil.
“Following the installation of the cofferdam, it became possible to work in the resulting dry zone. Drilling rigs will be housed inside on metal frames. A system of 102 guide pipes will be used to drill into the riverbed for the installation of bored piles,” explained Anton Krupnov, Director of Construction at OOO VIS Stroy.
The floating cofferdam technology was selected with regard for severe floods, intense ice drift, and the short construction season. This is the first time this method has been used in Russian bridge construction. Specialists from VIS Group and Morbaza successfully completed this challenging task and have already installed two cofferdams in the riverbed – one on the right bank and one in the center. River operations this summer were supported by the fleet of the Lena United River Shipping Company, Vitim-Les, the Yakutsk Shipping Company, and VIS Group's own vessels. A total of 19 vessels of various classes are engaged in the construction of the Lena Bridge.
The bridge's cable-stayed structure will be mounted on three pylons. The right and left pylons are each 194.5 meters high, with the center pylon being the highest. The bridge is 284.5 meters tall, comparable to a 90-story skyscraper. This is the first such engineering structure to be built in the Arctic permafrost zone. VIS Group is responsible for the design, construction, extra-budgetary financing, and operation of the bridge until 2048. It is being implemented under a concession agreement with the Government of Yakutia as part of the “Infrastructure for Life” national project. This format allowed for the attraction of a private investor and a significant reduction in budgetary funds during the construction phase. The share of extra-budgetary investment exceeds 47%, and reimbursement to the investor is spread over the entire term of the agreement with VIS Group.
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