Over-Bridges program: asset management 2.0

Major challenges lie ahead to keep the Netherlands accessible. A huge number of bridges, tunnels, viaducts, locks and dams must be upgraded or replaced in the coming decades. With the Over-Bruggen program, Rijkswaterstaat focuses on carrying out the most urgently needed maintenance to bridge the time until the eventual replacement or renovation of a series of bridges in the West Netherlands South region. INNOCY is assisting in this clever feat of asset management 2.0.

We have overdue maintenance on our engineering structures in the Netherlands, and that includes the South Holland region, says Erwin Kommeren, technical manager of the Over-Bruggen program at Rijkswaterstaat. "With this program, we are focusing on performing major variable maintenance on 20 bridges in the region. The goal is to bring the bridges up to acceptable levels, and keep them safe and available again for ten years until it's their turn for replacement and renovation (V&R). This gives the V&R task a little more air. At the same time, it requires us to be creative in taking the right measures for each object to extend the life span only slightly. That is why we consciously make use of knowledge from the market."

Asset management

INNOCY has been involved in the Over-Bridges program since 2022. "Each bridge within the program is unique and requires a separate approach," Kommeren continues. "The biggest challenge for Rijkswaterstaat is therefore to identify the exact condition of the structure. We therefore make grateful use of INNOCY's experience of asset management expertise. INNOCY assists in shaping the problem identification." Raoul Rampersad, Asset Management Advisor at INNOCY: "We collect the technical condition of the bridges from the regional managers. Based on the defects identified, measures are named. At a later stage, these are further developed together with the market to guarantee safety and availability again for 10 years." At Rijkswaterstaat, we are used to building new objects, Kommeren says. "The guidelines, standards and protocols are based on a life expectancy of 50 or 100 years. At Over-Bridges, we limit ourselves to a 10-year life extension. That requires a different approach."

ROK and NOK

INNOCY has quite a broad role on the Department of Public Works' technical advisory team. "In all areas, we have to weigh up what is minimally necessary to keep the bridge safe and available for another ten years. We provide advice on both mechanical and electrical engineering, but also consider the steel and civil aspects, as well as the asphalt," says Rampersad. "The project team is set up so that the 20 bridges all pass in time." Rijkswaterstaat then enters into a 10-year commitment for all the bridges with an engineering firm and a contractor through a ROK contract. "Within that commitment we separately create the contracts for the maintenance task per bridge through a further agreement (NOK)," Kommeren explains. What is special about this working method is that we make a commitment for an undefined scope of all bridges. We have therefore arranged a time per NOK where we examine with the engineering firm and the contractor what is wrong with the bridge and what is the best possible approach that causes the least possible disruption."

Tendering for the Over-Bridges program has now begun. "We now have four bidders and expect to have the contractor on board by the end of October," said Kommeren. "The goal is to have two bridges under construction each year. In parallel, two other bridges are in preparation. So on average, we are working on four bridges every year. In all phases, INNOCY has an important role in terms of contracting, scope determination, execution, delivery, validation and verification of the final result. We believe that with this program we have come up with a methodology to provide bridges with maintenance at a faster pace with the creativity from the market on board. Instead of putting out fires, we are moving toward managed rehabilitation. A great step toward asset management 2.0."