Opening bus bridge Zwolle

On February 9, Zwolle will celebrate the opening of the bus bridge and new bus station at Zwolle station with a genuine Bus Bridge Festival. The S-shaped bridge designed by ipv Delft was commissioned by ProRail and the municipality and realized by BAM Infra. The design combines clear lines and sleek design with a pleasant, soft feel.

On Feb. 17, the bus bridge will actually be inaugurated. Buses can then bridge the tracks in a smooth line between the new bus platform on the south side of the train station and the new western main route for public transport. In doing so, passengers will have optimal views over the tracks and the immediate surroundings. At the same time, the bridge at ground level contributes to a pleasant public space. Thanks in part to its clear, restrained design, use of materials and natural integration.

City Park
The total route of just under 500 meters consists of 245 meters of a bridge on supports and further ground bodies. The bridge deck meanders like a canopy over the track and the adjacent green zone. High-quality bamboo cladding on the underside of the bridge deck forms a wooden ceiling, which fits well with the intended city park appearance. Together with the S-shape, it also gives the bridge its own character.

Sleek and dynamic
The bridge itself is composed of a tubular main girder with a simply shaped cantilevered edge element. The whole structure is divided into three horizontal lines, creating an airy final appearance: at the bottom the dark gray steel box girder, above it the wooden slats, and to conclude the slender, light line of the edge element.

The supports are placed eccentrically on either side of the track. To enhance the dynamics of the bridge, they have been designed to appear to be slanted. In addition, the surfaces of the columns are chamfered and the corners rounded, giving them a slimmer appearance and matching the design of the bridge deck.

The lightweight aluminum bridge edge integrates a variety of features: lighting for the roadways, as well as vehicle barriers, overhead line shielding, stormwater drainage and noise protection.

Construction took a year and a half. In particular, the placement of the 110-meter-long bridge section above the track was a complex operation that attracted many spectators.