Roads and streets

Bridges are critical to the Netherlands' infrastructure, ensuring smooth transportation of people and goods. However, many of the country’s steel bridges built in the 1950s-60s are experiencing fatigue due to increasing traffic volumes and heavier truck loads.

To address these challenges, Rijkswaterstaat launched a long-term maintenance and refurbishment programme ‘Programma Vernieuwen’ aimed at extending the service life of these vital structures and using circular economy design principles.

Challenges

Aging infrastructure and rising demands have made bridge fatigue a pressing issue, requiring innovative and sustainable solutions. Orthotropic steel decks, common in Dutch bridges, are particularly prone to wear, necessitating reinforcement for heavier loads and compliance with modern standards. Balancing economic viability with technical upgrades further adds to the complexity of this nationwide programme.

Arup’s contribution

Over the past 25 years, Arup and its partners have supported Rijkswaterstaat in delivering sustainable strengthening solutions for Dutch landmark steel bridges, including the Tacitus bridge, Suurhoffbridge, Van Brienenoord bridge, Waalbrug and Galecopperbrug. Our approach combines tailored design strategies, advanced High Strength Concrete (HSC) reinforcements, and real-time performance monitoring systems, ensuring optimal longevity and cost-efficiency. These projects demonstrate our ability to transform bridges into safe, smart and sustainable connections that safeguard the accessibility of the Netherlands.

Services

Our expertise spans from technical management, civil engineering, renovation design, and digital tools like 3D modelling to data automation. We also innovate with Fibre Reinforced Polymers and welding techniques to enhance service life. With our project partners, we ensure safer, future-proof bridges while setting a foundation for innovative bridge design and management.