Rijkswaterstaat renovates Haringvliet bridge valve in 2023

The valve of the Haringvliet Bridge will have reached the end of its technical lifespan in 2023 and will therefore be replaced by Rijkswaterstaat. In addition, the systems for operation, control and monitoring will be renewed. The concrete work in the basement will also be modified to accommodate all the new systems.

This contract is being carried out by contractor combination Mobilis TBI / Croonwolter&dros (CMCH) together with Hollandia Infra and Machinefabriek Rusthoven.

Bridge valve including ballast box and actuators

Hollandia Infra in Krimpen aan den IJssel is currently working hard on the new bridge flap. This consists of a driving deck, pivots and a ballast box. In a large factory hall, the final welding work is being carried out on the 57-meter-long bridge structure and it is being prepared for preservation. Then the bridge drives (including electric motor, gearbox and pinion) will be assembled at the back by Machinefabriek Rusthoven.

Tilting surgery

The bridge deck is built upside down because most of the welding takes place on the underside. This involves installing the so-called girders and troughs that give the bridge deck its rigidity. With the help of the large floating trestle Matador 3, the 725-ton bridge valve was recently flipped and tilted and transported to a larger fabrication hall. This precarious tipping operation was successful and marked a major milestone for the project. 

Continued work

Now welding is being done on the driving side of the bridge flap and assembly with the ballast box. The preservation of the bridge is also being prepared by erecting scaffolding and work floors, and a special tent is being erected around the bridge while other work continues.

Placement

At the end of June, the valve will be completed and will be transported by water to the Haringvliet Bridge to be hoisted in its entirety. By finishing the valve in its entirety already at the shipyard, it saves a lot of work on site and keeps the bridge closed for as short a time as possible.

A29 closure

To replace the bridge valve, the bridge in the A29 will be closed to all traffic from June 9 to July 28, with a run-out week through August 4. Traffic will be diverted via the A16 (Moerdijk Bridge) and the N57 (Haringvliet Dam) during this period. The Kiltunnel will be toll-free during this period. Rijkswaterstaat expects serious inconvenience on the detour routes, with delays that can reach more than an hour during peak hours. Rijkswaterstaat expressly asks road users to adjust their travel behavior if possible. For example, by working from home, travelling outside the rush hour and/or together, taking the train or cycling for short distances. For slow traffic using the bridge's parallel lane, Rijkswaterstaat is working on a temporary ferry connection. 

Haringvliet Bridge in figures:

• Welding hours: 2500 welding hours by 60 people in 4 months. 
• Ballast box: 17.2 x 5.3 x 4.1 meters
• Tail rails with box: 20 meters long