On October 22, 2026, in the undulating valleys of central Morocco, a low and even hydraulic sound broke the silence of the wilderness. Without a large scaffold or a large crane passing underneath, a section of steel bridge was placed on temporary support and moved steadily forward by several tens of millimeters. Applause rang out on the shore - representatives from the Moroccan National Railway Bureau, the owner management consulting unit, the supervision unit, and the general contracting unit Gezhouba Road and Bridge are witnessing the trial pushing of the Ekem Bridge on the 9th section of the Gaima High Speed Railway.

Turn back the time by seven days. The first steel beam, measuring 12.4 meters in length and weighing 43 tons, was slowly lifted into the air under the precise control of the lifting equipment, and smoothly landed at the predetermined support position of the progressive push equipment. Within seven days, from lifting to walking, Yikemu Bridge became the first bridge on the entire Gaima high-speed railway line to complete steel structure lifting and trial pushing.

First suspension of 43 ton steel beam

To make the steel beam walk on the bridge, the first step is to steadily lift it up. On the day of lifting, with the instruction given, the 43 ton steel beam slowly lifted off the ground and completed the aerial posture adjustment and precise positioning within the limited working space. The successful first lift is just the beginning, and the project team immediately moved on to equipment debugging, measurement review, circumferential seam welding, and other pre push preparations to solidify each process for the next steps.

How can steel beams learn to walk

The secret is hidden in the walking push. Relying on the hydraulic system, the pushing equipment operates in a cyclic process of lifting, moving forward, lowering the beam, and returning, driving the steel beam forward step by step like a person taking a step. This construction method is particularly suitable for crossing valleys and limited sites, without the need for extensive land occupation under the bridge. The Yikemu Bridge has a total of 8 spans and undulating terrain, making construction organization and precision control difficult. The project team has carried out special deployments in advance around temporary supports, equipment coordination, structural stress and displacement monitoring.

Millimeter level walking

Seemingly light walking, behind it lies strict control over synchronicity, force, and precision. Each displacement step is controlled at the millimeter level, and the synchronization error of multi-point hydraulic and the instantaneous changes in structural stress need to be monitored and corrected in real time. China Construction Steel Structure has undertaken the construction of four steel bridges in Section 9, namely Ekem, Sherat, North Mahler, and South Mahler, with a total steel consumption of approximately 12000 tons. They comply with the highest level of European EN 1090 EXC4 standards, which are also the most stringent requirements in the European steel structure system. They place extremely high demands on welding quality, dimensional tolerances, and traceability throughout the entire process.

At the trial push ceremony, Morad Hamdi, the representative of the property owner, congratulated the phased achievements of the project and praised the Chinese team for maintaining rigor and efficiency under complex conditions. Chen Zhenming, Chief Engineer of China Construction Steel Structure, stated that this project is not only an important practical carrier for the company to deeply cultivate overseas markets, but also an important window to showcase China's steel structure construction capabilities. China Construction Steel Structure will leverage its professional technical advantages in steel structures, ensure project quality through lean management, and collaborate with all parties involved to promote construction with high standards, contributing steel structure strength to the development of Morocco's high-speed rail infrastructure.keywords:Engineering infrastructure

As an important project for upgrading the Moroccan railway network, the Gaima high-speed railway will provide transportation support for the 2030 World Cup. The tens of millimeters of the Ekem Bridge are the first step forward for this high-speed mainline.Editor/Yang Meiling