Merwedebrug truck closure exposes years of infrastructure concerns, experts say
The sudden closure of the Merwedebrug to freight traffic comes as little surprise to experts, who say the Netherlands has for years devoted too little time and money to maintaining its infrastructure while failing to deliver structural solutions. The bridge, a large metal structure built in 1961, is considered a more difficult component of the country's road network and has faced problems before.
The bridge was closed to trucks after Rijkswaterstaat said it could no longer guarantee the structure's safety under heavy traffic. The agency warned that the steel plates forming the arch could deform under high pressure.
Richard Loendersloot, a professor of Engineering Dynamics at the University of Twente, said the bridge's current problems are consistent with the challenges facing older infrastructure designed for a different era of traffic.
"This type of infrastructure dates from a time when traffic was very different," Loendersloot said. "Traffic has since become much more intensive and heavier, and structures are subjected to different loads than those for which they were designed."
The Merwedebrug was previously closed to freight traffic for several months in 2016 after hairline cracks were found in its support beams. Repairs were carried out before the bridge reopened.
Loendersloot said the repairs carried out over the years have not addressed the underlying problem. "It's a bit like putting on bandages while the situation is becoming more and more critical, and therefore also much more expensive," he said.
