January 9 - ALE has transported a Siemens wind turbine blade, measuring 75 m long, as part of the Hull UK City of Culture programme.
ALE transported the wind blade on Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) and bolsters from Siemens' production facility, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) away to Queen Victoria Square, where it will remain until March 18, 2017.
Once in position, it was mounted on specially-constructed supports. At the highest point, it is 5.5 m from the ground. ALE believes it to be the first time such a huge industrial structure has been manoeuvred into a city centre to be displayed as a temporary art installation.
According to ALE, moving and installing the blade has involved over a year of planning, also involving Hull City Council, project consulting engineers Arup and the police.
Dave Smith, ALE projects operational manager, said: "This was a unique challenge. We have never before moved a structure of this size into a city centre along such narrow streets."
ALE is currently working on a four-year Crane Framework Agreement for Siemens for the supply and deployment of cranes, specialised transport equipment and personnel at Siemens' new offshore wind facilities in Hull.
Photo courtesy of Siemens/Sean Spencer, Hull News & Pictures
