Huge installation hoists Prince Claus Bridge into place in Dordrecht

A feat that is quietly nearing its end as the first part of the superstructure was installed in April. "It was a nice challenge to unite the architectural design with our technical design," said Martijn Kuzee, project manager at ASK Romein.

The Prince Claus Bridge in Dordrecht, designed by René van Zuuk Architekten, will be a powerful sculptural landmark for the municipality of Dordrecht. For example, the mast of the movable bicycle and pedestrian bridge will rise no less than 55 m into the air. The construction of the bridge, which will eventually connect the new housing estate Stadswerven with Dordrecht's city center, is therefore full of challenges and is characterized by an unusual architectural design. That design creates a remarkable system of movable elements, the mechanics of which are all concealed in very narrow spaces. For the engineering of this iconic bridge, Hillebrand and Dura Vermeer joined forces with IV Group, a multidisciplinary engineering firm. The intensive collaboration between Hillebrand and IV Group resulted in a model that not only looks beautiful, but also meets all of these challenges.

Placement of first part

"The architectural design is very complex," Kuzee says. "It took a lot of work to get it done, but in the meantime, we are building in full swing. Dura Vermeer, for its part, is working on the substructure, including foundations, piles, earthwork, concrete work, the electrical installation and the retaining structure that will protect the bridge from collisions. The substructure work is almost complete and, on schedule, the installation of the first part of the superstructure took place in April. In our factories we make all the steel parts. The pillars are made in Rotterdam and all other concrete work takes place at the Dordrecht site."

Within the consortium, Hillebrand is responsible for the superstructure, particularly the steelwork of the bridge structure. Kuzee: "Including the design and construction of the hydraulic drive. The whole design in all its grandeur and complexity is without doubt the biggest challenge in this project. The structure is very slender which means that there is very little space to accommodate the forces. And given the size of the bridge, a lot of force is involved. As with every project, our design tries to meet the architectural design as technically and economically as possible. Precise welding and high-quality materials are crucial here."

Impressive signboard

The bridge will be 140 m long in total. The weighted mast, weighing 350 tons, serves as a counterweight and with cylinders ensures that the 46 m long bridge flap can be opened. An imposing ballast mast and a pendulum rod protruding far into the air form the movable part and create a special movement when the bridge opens or closes. "It will be an impressive signboard for the city. The bridge connects a new construction area to the Dordrecht city center, providing a very fast connection. For Hillebrand, this is undoubtedly a very special reference, thanks in part to the special architectural aspect. It was not easy to merge the architectural and technical design. In this respect, it is always a matter of give and take, but the result is certainly worth it. It is precisely our strength to implement the technology in the design and I am therefore quite proud that we can realize such projects with Hillebrand," concludes Kuzee.