Project name:
Merwedebrug
Location:
A27 at Gorinchem, The Netherlands
Period:
2016
Description:
In October 2016, the Merwede Bridge in the A27 was unexpectedly closed for freight traffic due to cracks in the steel construction. For security reasons, an emergency reinforcement operation was initiated. Within a few weeks the bridge was reinforced locally to allow safe use by heavy traffic again. The work took place under high pressure of time, with day and night deployment.
List of activities:
- Inspection and analysis of fatigue tears
- Weld and fit 336 steel insert plates at 48 critical nodes
- Local reinforcement of steel support structure
- Temporary traffic measures for vehicles >3,5 tonnes
- Reopening after structural release early December 2016
Result:
Thanks to the emergency measures, the Merwede Bridge could again be safely used by freight traffic. The reinforcements were a temporary solution, pending a larger renovation. The project was successfully completed within a few weeks, with minimal disruption of traffic flow due to the urgency.
