Michiel de Ruyter Bridge: The civilian highlights

As part of construction consortium 2KA, Knipscheer Infrastructure is responsible for the civil part of the Michiel de Ruyter Bridge. Quite a complex task, partly because, according to the EMVI promise, the passage could not be obstructed during the entire project. Reason enough for Knipscheer Infrastructure to design the bank as a "prefab factory. An interview with Steven Jansen, discipline leader civil engineering, about the various highlights.

Knipscheer Infrastructure's scope includes the entire concrete structure of the Michiel de Ruyter Bridge, including the bridge basement, the complete foundation construction, all earthwork and pavement work around the bridge, the underpass under the bridge, and the brake and guide works. "Pretty much all the disciplines we have in house, from foundation to paving, do come together here," Jansen says. "The drainage, the water drainage system at the underpass, including an oil/gasoline separator to purify and discharge the water, also comes out of our box. We are also realizing a fish platform at some distance from the bridge, also part of our assignment."

Two 750-tonners

The construction of the Michiel de Ruyter Bridge is encapsulated in a UAV-GC contract. "As a construction consortium 2KA - Knook Steel and Mechanical Engineering, Knipscheer Infrastructure and ÆVO - we are responsible for the design, realization and long-term maintenance. And that applies to all disciplines: mechanical, electrical and civil engineering," Jansen clarified. "So that meant already in the preliminary phase that every design choice was always approached and coordinated integrally from the three disciplines to ensure that nothing got between shore and ship." Back to Knipscheer Infrastructure's contribution. "The foundation construction of the bridge consists of a combination of precast concrete piles and steel tubular piles under the basement box. To fulfill the EMVI promise, construction had to take place in the water without a construction pit. Navigation was not to be obstructed. Therefore, we prefabricated the substructure of the bridge basement on the bank and placed it on the piles in one lifting motion. Because of the weight of 115 tons and the distance to be covered, two 750-ton cranes were involved." 

Hussar

The aesthetic finish of the bridge basement was also already installed on the bank by Knipscheer Infrastructure. "The prefabricated basement box was fitted with masonry on the outside. Of course, that was an impossible exercise in the water. Above the waterline, however, the last part is being bricked up in a regular way," Jansen explains. "After hoisting in the prefabricated substructure, an underwater concrete floor was poured, after which we were able to pump out the basement for finishing in the dry. A connection was then made to the bank via culverts to feed the bridge basement. The basement includes the cylinders, hydraulic set and electrical control cabinets." 

Part of the completion also included the in-situ poured bridge edge. "To test whether the intended design was feasible, a test piece was first made in our workshop. This is because the bridge edge is curved on 2 sides, both in the horizontal and vertical planes, and forms one line with the steel trap. A feat of our concrete carpenters."

Construction consortium 2KA and Knipscheer Infrastructure in particular are now getting very close to completion. "We have the major milestones behind us and are proud of the result and the cooperation between them. All three parties within the construction consortium are very driven. As a local contractor, we have a lot of knowledge of the immediate area in the Flevopolder. We are used to performing under pressure and can switch quickly, both within the building consortium and within our own organization due to short lines of communication and a flat organizational structure. That definitely bears fruit on this project, which is quite under pressure," Jansen concludes.