Rijkswaterstaat, contractor Van Hattum & Blankevoort and precast concrete supplier Consolis Spanbeton are building the first reusable flyover in the Netherlands. It is built on a construction area near Kampen, where the viaduct will be tested by work traffic during the construction of the Reevesluis.
Circular bridge
Beam composed of precast elements.
The first bridge deck made of circular concrete elements.
You can widen it, extend it or disassemble it and rebuild it elsewhere.
Thanks to the close cooperation between Rijkswaterstaat, contractor Van Hattum & Blankevoort and precast concrete supplier Consolis Spanbeton, this dream has become a reality.
The prototype of this first circular bridge is being tested at the construction site of the Reevesluis (Reeve Lock) nearby Kampen.
The viaduct is made up of 40 circular precast concrete elements.
The production of each precast element takes about 24 hours.
These elements are equipped with so-called shear-keys to ensure that they fit together well and can be dismantled.
Each element has a hollow space through which elastic, steel cables (tendons) are drawn.
The elements are connected to each other by tensioning the steel cables.
The steel cables and elements can be easily disassembled and then reused.
This prototype consists of equal beams that are each created by linking together 8 elements lengthwise.
Five of these prefabricated beams lined up side by side make up a bridge that is 20 metres long and 7.5 metres wide.
The beams are carried by specialised transport to the construction site nearby Kampen.
Within 1 day, we position the 5 beams on a steel foundation.
We connect them to each other on location and apply the necessary safety provisions.
Measurement sensors record movements in the bridge deck up to 0.1 mm when construction traffic is using the bridge.
Tension in the steel cables is also measured. This way we learn about the performance of the circular bridge.
To achieve a circular economy, we need to collaborate. So, we have created a learning environment and share our knowledge.
This means that other parties will soon be able to implement circular viaducts as well.
Together we ensure the high-value reuse of materials.
More information?
Please visit: rijkswaterstaat.nl/circulair-viaduct (Dutch)
Rijkswaterstaat
Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management
Produced by Rijkswaterstaat © 2019