A touch of nostalgia on the Blankenburg connection

Realizing a pylon casing for a bridge pillar is usually not a very difficult task. It becomes more difficult when you have to build on an existing design. And it gets even more exciting when only 30-year-old pen drawings of that construction are available. Leave that to GlasGroen, designers of nature and water projects.

GlasGroen specializes in hydraulic engineering, site design and landscaping. "Our activities range from manufacturing, supplying and assembling shoring, decking and furniture to prefabricated bridges, fishing jetties, fencing and wildlife fencing," Ruud Glas clarifies. "In addition, our landscape architects are very strong in translating images into practice. These are often tailor-made solutions that are communicated through implementation drawings to our outdoor hydraulic and site planning teams. As a well-known relation of Ballast Nedam, part of construction consortium BAAK, we have had the opportunity to carry out a number of special projects on the Blankenburg connection."

GlasGroen is currently constructing 215 linear meters of shoring at a service area in Vlaardingen.

Hardwood 'walkway'

GlasGroen's first introduction to the Blankenburg connection was some time ago. "At the time, we installed wildlife fencing over a length of about 150 meters, mainly to protect amphibians," explains Glas. "Then we built fauna passages at several locations. Surely one of them stands out. It involves two large culverts, both about 60 meters long, which allow a wide variety of terrestrial and aquatic animals to cross the highway. Above the water connection, we have in fact made a kind of 'gangway' out of hardwood, which is suspended by means of supports from the roof of the culverts, so that amphibians, for example, can cross the highway dry and safely."

Pylon casing

Another GlasGroen "special" on the project is the pylon casing at the extension of one of the A20 viaducts. "We continued the initial design of the casing in the extension, because of the intended uniform appearance. That was sooner said than done by the way," Glass knows. "Only 30-year-old pen drawings of the design were available. Once the challenge in materialization was made, it still had to be taken in execution. A limited clear height under the viaduct and accessibility from the water with a considerable water depth meant that special equipment had to be used and an adapted working method had to be used. But the result is impressive. Just after the 2022 construction vacations, we completed the three bridge piers."

Shoring

Meanwhile, GlasGroen has again carried out the necessary additional projects on the Blankenburg connection. "A number of these we have been able to complete with our standard range, such as a hardwood weir with aluminum bulkhead beam leveling and installing shoring at various locations," continues Glas. "At the moment we are in the process of constructing 215 linear meters of shoring at a service area in Vlaardingen. As a result of the major work on the Blankenburg connection, water management has also been modified and waterways have been widened. We use tropical hardwood of the highest durability class for the shoring. That is also our strength: composing the best types of wood for the most diverse applications. We look at wood differently than the standard hydraulic builder."

With more than fifty years of experience in hydraulic engineering and a specialization in landscape architecture, GlasGroen looks beyond the functional aspect. "In addition to being solid and functional, a design just has to look good," Glas believes. "That's the added value we provide. We stand for quality in outdoor space and act as a knowledge center for hydraulic engineering. All major contractors do know where to find us for these facets."