Mast foundations for gondola lift

January 5, 2021

CCL has worked with HS Bygg and Christie & Opsahl on the delivery of foundations for a mast which will carry a new gondola lift, the Romsdalsgondolen. The lift will provide transportation from the centre of Åndalsnes on the west coast of Norway to the top of Mount Nesaksla and will offer views of the beautiful fjord below and of the Romsdalen valley. At the top of the mountain visitors will find a restaurant and access to popular walking routes.

The lift itself will be around 1600-1700 metres long and the journey will take approx. 4-5 minutes each way. It will carry up to 460 passengers in cable cars.

CCL Norway supplied 40 permanent threaded anchors which  were installed in the foundations of the mast, with ten anchors in each foundation. Manufactured in accordance with NS-EN 1537 and NB Publication no.14, the anchors had to be capable of being re-tensioned to allow the client to perform a ‘lift-off test’ at a later date.

To ensure the anchors were angled correctly from the foundations on the steep mountainside, CCL also supplied an inclined support plate with a 5-degree pre-set angle. All exposed steel is hot-dip galvanised to provide corrosion protection.

The construction of the foundations was particularly challenging because of the location and required careful planning and coordination between all parties. Installation was carried out by five operatives from CCL and HS Bygg with the assistance of a helicopter. The remoteness of location required the team to set up camp on the mountainside for several days.

CCL Norway is also supplying a further 12 anchors for the station located at the top of the mountain. Longer than those used in the mast foundations, they will be connected using couplers.

Romsdalsgondolen is due to open in May 2021.