Platform on civil engineering, underground infrastructure, energy, construction equipment & construction machinery
Featuring various ‘highlights’
After an aging sewer line along the Polderbaan near Schiphol had caused leaks on multiple occasions, the Rijnland Water Board decided to replace the entire section. To ensure proper drainage during the work, a temporary bypass had to be installed first. VandeGrijp Rental was commissioned to supply seven kilometers of steel pipe, featuring several highlights such as smart culverts and pipe bridges.
The aging fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) sewer pipe had caused multiple leaks over the past ten years. As a result, sewage seeped into surrounding farmland, with all the associated environmental and financial consequences. Emergency repairs provided temporary relief each time, but a permanent solution was necessary. Before the existing pipe could be replaced, a temporary bypass had to be installed to ensure that wastewater could continue to be drained. For VandeGrijp Rental, this represented a major project.
“When we were awarded the contract, the bypass had to be operational as soon as possible,” says Thijs van Hemert of VandeGrijp Rental. “The temporary pipeline was essential to eliminate the risks and give our client the time to carefully prepare for the permanent replacement.” The original setup consisted of two pipes with a diameter of 700 millimeters. The temporary bypass was constructed using pipes measuring 600 and 700 millimeters in diameter. For the bypass, VandeGrijp Rental supplied approximately seven kilometers of pipe sections ranging from six to twelve meters in length, including bends, couplings, and other components. In total, about eighty trucks made trips back and forth to get all the materials to the site.
The route of the temporary pipeline runs parallel to the Polderbaan, and its construction presented several challenges. For example, it was necessary to cross roads, ditches, and access roads without restricting accessibility. “At several locations, we installed what are called ”jumpers“: temporary pipeline crossings that allow traffic, farm vehicles, and emergency services to pass unimpeded,” explains Thomas ten Hagen of VandeGrijp Rental. One of the most striking structures is located near the Schiphol plane-spotting area. “There, a roundabout is being bridged over while, at the same time, special (i.e., tall) airport fire trucks must pass unimpeded. For this purpose, a three-legged span was designed with a clear span of approximately thirty meters and a clearance height of six meters.”
Another example of solution-oriented collaboration was the temporary pipeline bridge spanning a waterway approximately thirty meters wide. Instead of renting an expensive temporary bridge structure, VandeGrijp Rental devised an alternative using ‘pipe sections,’ in which large pipe segments with a diameter of one meter were used as the load-bearing structure. The temporary bypass could then be easily routed over this structure. “It was a simple yet effective—and ultimately much more cost-effective—solution for the contractor,” says Thomas.
All spans were designed by VandeGrijp Rental and accompanied by stability calculations, Thijs emphasizes. The project was carried out in collaboration with specialized partners, while VandeGrijp Rental was responsible for the engineering, delivery, and logistical coordination. “The weather conditions made the assembly quite challenging,” says Thomas. “Most of the work took place in the winter, resulting in heavy rain and soggy pastures. To make transportation possible, we had to lay down tracks of road plates. That required a lot of planning and coordination. That’s another area where our strength lies: adapting quickly and ensuring that materials are in the right place at the right time.”
After a ramp-up period of about twelve weeks, the bypass was fully operational. The temporary pipeline has now been in place for over a year and a half, and the replacement project is nearing completion. Afterward, the equipment will be returned to VandeGrijp Rental for inspection, maintenance, and its next deployment.
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