First 'plastic' vertical lift bridge

(01-06-2010)

Oosterwolde will be the first place in the Netherlands to have a movable vertical lift bridge made of a composite material. The bridge will have a glass fibre reenforced polymer composite deck and a hydraulic lifting technology. This combination is brand new and innovative.

The initial design was prepared by the architectural firm Vegter and Witteveen+Bos during a design competition issued by the Province of Friesland. The design scored highest on the combination of architecture, construction and costs. Due to the use of a glass fibre reenforced polymer composite deck, the weight has been reduced which allows a simple yet exceptionally functional and sleek design, that blends into the landscape in a perfect way. With this design, Witteveen+Bos and Vegter have set a new direction for movable bridges. An additional advantage is the substantial saving on construction costs as well on maintenance costs thanks to the small size of the construction and the use of maintenance-friendly materials.

The deck of the bridge will be made of a glass fibre reenforced polymer composite material in the shape of a honeycomb sandwich construction. Two steel pylons, one on each side of the deck, will be placed in the water. These pylons will not only support the deck, but also contain the hydraulic cylinders that will lift the bridge during opening. The construction works of the bridge started mid 2009 and are expected to be finished in spring 2010. This is a highly innovative and above all economic concept for replacing bridges and for building new bridges.