Rijkswaterstaat has awarded the variable maintenance of movable steel bridges in South Holland for the coming years to the contractor consortium Savera Over-Bruggen. This concerns ageing bridges that are scheduled for renovation or replacement. Until that time, the consortium will carry out the necessary variable maintenance to ensure the bridges remain safe and available. The first bridges to be addressed are the Merwedebrug in Gorinchem (March 2026) and the Algerabrug (summer 2026).
Savera Over-Bruggen: Hollandia Services and SPIE
The framework contract for large-scale bridge maintenance has been awarded to the Savera Over-Bruggen consortium, consisting of Hollandia Services and SPIE Nederland. The consortium is well acquainted with the bridges in South Holland and has extensive experience in maintaining and renovating complex movable bridges. The contract, which covers up to 20 bridges and has a maximum duration of 10 years, provides for a long-term, serial approach to bridge maintenance and came into effect on 8 December 2025.
For each bridge, a Specific Agreement (NOK) is concluded for the preparation and execution of the variable maintenance, with a fixed price and schedule agreed in advance. The renovation or replacement of the steel bridges is not part of this contract and will be tendered separately.
Vision, craftsmanship and predictability
Matthijs de Groot, Managing Director of Hollandia Services, on behalf of the Savera Over-Bruggen consortium:
“We are proud that Rijkswaterstaat has confirmed its trust in our consortium through this long-term framework agreement. Maintaining crucial movable bridges in one of the most critical regions of the Netherlands requires vision, craftsmanship and a high level of predictability. Together with our experienced teams and committed partners, we are dedicated to ensuring safe, reliable and future-proof bridge maintenance.”
Learning and improving together
Ingrid Klokke, Director of Procurement and Contract Management at Rijkswaterstaat PPO:
“We were looking for a market party willing to collaborate with us across all bridges and throughout the entire project. It had to be a party with all the necessary expertise in-house — including steel, asphalt, concrete, mechanical engineering, industrial automation and electrical engineering — and one that contributes this expertise already in the preparation phase. It was also important to us that the party could adapt flexibly to changing needs and uncertainties within the project scope, and that it would be an integral part of a team consisting of our engineering office, the market party itself and Rijkswaterstaat as the client. A team in which everyone contributes to learning and improving together throughout the contract period, following a structured process so that the same cycle is applied to each bridge. We are pleased to have found such a partner in Savera Over-Bruggen.”
Merwedebrug, Gorinchem
The first bridge to be addressed by Savera Over-Bruggen is the Merwedebrug in Gorinchem (A27). To keep the 1961 bridge safe and available until its replacement, it will be carefully maintained. In March 2026, this will include the replacement of the expansion joints and concrete repairs in the bridge basement. Local touch-ups will also be carried out on the protective coating of the movable bridge, the arch bridge and the main girders.
The Merwedebrug will be closed to road traffic in both directions for two weekends between 6 and 16 March 2026.
Algerabrug
The second bridge to undergo maintenance is the Algerabrug between Krimpen aan den IJssel and Capelle aan den IJssel (N210). In the summer of 2026, much-needed major maintenance will be carried out on the bridge dating from 1958. The wooden beams and steel longitudinal girders of the bridge deck will be replaced. In addition, the steel structure will be treated locally and the fixed bridge section will be resurfaced with new asphalt.
The Algerabrug will be closed to road traffic for 5 to 6 weeks from 10 August 2026. For shipping, the lock chamber will be closed from 27 July to 19 October 2026.
Other bridges
In addition to the Merwedebrug in Gorinchem and the Algerabrug, Savera Over-Bruggen will also carry out variable maintenance on, among others, the Harmsenbrug, Volkerakbrug and Goereesebrug. The order in which the remaining bridges will be addressed has yet to be determined.
