Building combination Galecom, consisting of the companies KWS (main contractor) and “Staalcombinatie Mercon-Hollandia” has strengthened and raised the Galecopper bridge. The work for Combinatie Galecom first involved the fabrication and installation of reinforcing steel in the bridge. In addition, the manufacture and installation of 2 steel prestressing beams for both the north and the south bridge.
Technically very challenging because of the connection between new and existing.
These 2×2 girders, 327 m (outside VSL) and 303 m (inside VSL) long respectively, were then coupled to the existing bridge so that they reinforced the bridge by taking the load from the existing bridge. This also relieves the load on the pylons. Finally, the driving decks were reinforced and made suitable for heavier loading by applying high-strength concrete with reinforcement. The entire bridge was also jacked up 60 cm to create more headroom for shipping. Hollandia Infra and Mercon, under the name “Staalcombinatie Mercon-Hollandia”, were jointly responsible for the structural steel part of this renovation project, namely the manufacture, supply and assembly of around 5,740 tonnes of steel. This tonnage can be roughly divided as follows: 5070 tons of box girders for the VSLs, 200 tons of connecting girders and 340 tons of other steel. The division of labour is about 50/50. Each of the partners delivered 1 outside VSL and 1 inside VSL. In total, as indicated above, approximately 5740 tonnes of steel were installed, which is almost double the weight of the existing bridge. The Galecopper Bridge is a crucial junction in both road and shipping traffic in the Netherlands. The steel bridge is located on the A12 motorway near the Oudenrijn junction and, with 200,000 vehicles per day, it is the second busiest road bridge in the Netherlands. The bridge also spans the much used Amsterdam-Rijn Canal.