MJ 775 and MJ 520 platforms play a key role in the realignment of the Navicelli bridge, now reopened to traffic and navigation
The movable bridge over the Navicelli canal, connected to the FI-PI-LI highway, is now fully operational again following a complex restoration project carried out after a malfunction that had compromised its operation last March.
With the completion of the final works and the testing of the lifting system, the bridge has been reopened to road traffic—including heavy vehicles—and to navigation in the canal below, restoring a strategic infrastructure for both road connections and port activities in the area.
In this context, marked by high technical complexity and extremely tight timelines, Multitel aerial platforms played a crucial role in supporting the operations coordinated by Bettarini Autogru, Livorno.
A high-precision operation
The operational plan included an initial phase of securing and stabilizing the bridge deck, followed by the controlled realignment of the span through millimetric movements carried out with the support of three mobile cranes (one 700-ton and two 250-ton units) and coordinated by specialized technicians.
The operations, carried out continuously day and night, made it possible to return the structure to its correct position, allowing the road to reopen to light traffic only (up to 3.5 tons).
Approximately two weeks after the initial intervention, the management company of the S.G.C. FI-PI-LI, in collaboration with Bettarini Autogru, planned and carried out the dismantling and ground placement of the entire bridge deck, weighing over 200 tons, to enable the complete repair of the movable bridge’s opening hinges, using four mobile cranes.
The final phase involved the lifting and the definitive repositioning of the deck, followed by paving works and the testing of the new lifting system, which is lighter than the previous configuration.
The contribution of Multitel platforms
Throughout all phases of the intervention, the Multitel MJ 775 and MJ 520 platforms worked in close synergy with the cranes used to lift the bridge deck.
Both machines were used for slinging operations—connecting the bridge to the crane hooks—and for monitoring maneuvers from above, allowing operators to work with precision near the lifting points and ensuring a complete overview of the operations.
Their extended outreach and stability at height made it possible to reach all critical areas of the structure, while the smoothness of movements allowed for fine adjustments, essential in an operation where even the slightest misalignment could have compromised the outcome.
The intervention was structured in three main stages: initially, the deck was lifted and repositioned to allow a partial reopening to light traffic. Subsequently, between March 28 and 29, Bettarini managed the dismantling of the movable section of the bridge and its positioning on the ground, in preparation for the replacement of the support hinges. Finally, on April 18 and 19, the final phase took place with the definitive repositioning of the span.
“Every intervention of this kind is a small miracle of engineering and collaboration,” comments Fabrizio Bettarini, who directly oversaw the operations and operated the MJ 775. “It’s not just about the power of the cranes, but about experience, timing, and precision. The platforms allowed us to work at height with the control needed to manage every phase safely.”
An integrated system for complex operations
The restoration of the Navicelli bridge highlights how, in operations on critical infrastructure, working at height is an integrated and strategic component.
The interaction between aerial platforms and other lifting equipment enables complex operations to be managed with a high level of control and safety, contributing decisively to the success of the project.
The achieved result confirms the value of the collaboration between Bettarini Group and Multitel, two Italian companies united by a shared focus on quality, safety, and the management of highly complex operations.
In scenarios where precision, coordination, and reliability are essential, the integration of skills and technologies is now a key factor in successfully tackling the most demanding challenges in the infrastructure sector.
About Multitel
Founded in Saluzzo (Cuneo) in 1911 by the Pagliero brothers, the company has grown from a small body shop into one of the most important international companies in the production of truck-mounted and tracked access platforms. A pioneer in the introduction of important technological solutions, Multitel Pagliero is constantly focusing on the design of innovative, safe, and efficient machines for any type of customer who has to work at height.
To discover ranges and models: www.multitelgroup.com
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