Framework agreement awarded for major maintenance of six Zeeland bridges

Deel dit nieuwsbericht:

Rijkswaterstaat has awarded the framework agreement for major maintenance of six movable bridges in Zeeland to the Savera PBB1 contractor consortium. This consortium consists of Hollandia Services and Dura Vermeer Infra Landelijke Projecten.

This is the first framework agreement to be tendered under the contractual portfolio approach of the Renewal Programme Procurement Strategy. With this approach, Rijkswaterstaat works with market parties on a long-term basis to carry out maintenance and renewal projects more efficiently, predictably and sustainably for the future.

By awarding the contract to Savera, Rijkswaterstaat has selected a contractor with proven expertise and extensive experience in maintaining similar structures in hydraulic infrastructure. The framework agreement has a term of six years.

During this period, individual contracts will be concluded for the major maintenance of the bridges concerned. The framework agreement has an estimated value of €115 million.

Major maintenance of Zeeland bridges

The framework agreement covers major maintenance of 6 bridges in Zeeland: 2 over the Zuid-Beveland Canal and four bridges over the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal:

Vlakebrug over the Zuid-Beveland Canal
Sas van Gent swing bridge over the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal
Sluiskil swing bridge over the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal
Postbrug over the Zuid-Beveland Canal
Two bridges over the Oostsluis at Terneuzen

Works

The major maintenance will ensure that the bridges remain in good technical condition and are prepared for safe and reliable long-term use by road and shipping traffic.

The contract includes the following work on the bridges:

applying new protective coatings to the steel structures
replacing components of the mechanical operating systems (the mechanical systems that open and close the bridges)
replacing bridge decks and road surfaces, expansion joints, bearings and safety barriers

Planning

The Vlakebrug near Hansweert is the first bridge within the framework agreement for which major maintenance is being prepared. Following the contract start-up phase, preparations for the work will begin in 2027. Maintenance of the Vlakebrug is scheduled for 2028–2029. The schedule for the other bridges will be developed further during the term of the framework agreement.

Portfolio approach

The major maintenance will be carried out using a serial portfolio approach. Savera will carry out the major maintenance of several bridges in sequence. Knowledge, experience and improvements from earlier projects can therefore be applied directly to subsequent bridges. This contributes to increasingly efficient delivery, a more predictable process and the effective use of people and resources.

Geert-Jan van Oosterhout – Programme Director at Dura Vermeer, and Matthijs de Groot – Managing Director of Hollandia Services, on behalf of Savera: ‘SAVERA was established in 2019 as a supply chain partnership of nine parties to deliver renovation portfolios effectively. We are very pleased to have been awarded the contract by Rijkswaterstaat for the renovation of six movable bridges in Zeeland, as the tender fits perfectly with our collaborative approach to the renovation of civil engineering structures. We look forward to a positive collaboration and the successful delivery of the works.’

Jorrit Nieuwenhuis, Portfolio Manager at Rijkswaterstaat: ‘It is great that we can now get started together with the portfolio contract! Six bridges in one approach. After several years of working with the market around the drawing board, we can now put this into practice. I am also looking forward to working together. Not only to refurbish the movable bridges in Zeeland, but also to continue exploring together how this new pricing mechanism works. We are going to make it a success!’