Nelson Mandela Bridge Alkmaar
Project: Nelson Mandela Bridge Alkmaar
Industry: Infrastructure
Location: Alkmaar
Completion: 2016
Client: Municipality of Alkmaar
Installer: Agidens Infra Automation
The Nelson Mandela Bridge in Alkmaar was recently opened and meets all the requirements and wishes for a bridge of the future. It concerns a movable bridge, where the movable part is made of durable composite. The 22.5 meter long section makes this the largest movable composite bridge in the world.
The modern road bridge, which improves the flow of traffic and the waterway underneath, was designed by Royal HaskoningDHV, the renowned consultancy firm that has extensive in-house knowledge of the application of composites. The choice for composite was made from the point of view of sustainability: the composite bridge section is not only low-maintenance, but also as much as 50% lighter in weight than a traditional steel alternative. As a result, the movement mechanism and foundation could also be made less heavy and less energy is needed to move the bridge. The traditional underground revolving cellar is no longer necessary for this modern bridge.
The bridge was built for the municipality of Alkmaar and the province of North Holland. During the construction of the bridge, all installations were carried out by the Belgian Agidens Infra Automation. For the watertight sealing of all cables, they opted for the round RGP seals from MCT Brattberg.
