COLLETT has completed the transport and installation of an 89.9-tonne transformer for National Grid’s Bicker Fen Substation in Lincolnshire, overcoming significant engineering and logistical challenges.
The operation began with the transformer being shipped from the Port of Rotterdam to Immingham via RoRo ferry, before onward transport to Collett’s Goole heavy lift depot.
From there, the 89-mile journey to site required detailed planning, including swept path analysis and coordination with local authorities, as the route spanned motorways, A-roads and narrow rural sections.
A major obstacle emerged less than a mile from the substation at Cowbridge over Hammond Beck, where the bridge’s load capacity was limited to just three tonnes.
To navigate this, Collett deployed a specialist ‘bridge over bridge’ system, allowing the heavy load to cross without placing its full weight on the structure.
The system was supported by engineered crane pads capable of bearing up to 50 tonnes per square metre.
Further enabling works included the installation of around 1.5 miles of temporary trackway to improve access and ground conditions.
The final delivery was carried out under police escort, with traffic management measures in place along key points of the route.
At Bicker Fen, Collett’s heavy lift team installed the transformer using jacking and skidding techniques.
A 30-metre skid track allowed the unit to be carefully manoeuvred into position before being lowered onto its plinth using hydraulic jacks, ensuring precise alignment and long-term stability.
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The project reflects Collett’s evolution from a family-run milk transport business founded in the 1930s near Keighley into a leading specialist in heavy haulage and engineering logistics.
Now employing more than 150 people across multiple UK and Ireland sites, the company operates a fleet of advanced transport and lifting equipment, supporting major infrastructure projects across the country.
