What’s involved in reusing bridges? Which steps have to be taken? And how can the Dutch National Bridge Exchange help you take them?
Our Guidelines for the Second Use of Bridges provides extensive information on the reuse of bridges and bridge components. It provides an A to Z on every aspect of reuse, not only the process involved when a bridge becomes available, but also on the eventual reuse of newly built bridges.
Reuse on a new site
Sometimes a bridge is no longer fit for purpose because it has reached the end of its lifetime at current loads. Or its function may change due to the need to widen a watercourse or add an extra traffic lane. None of the possible reasons make it unsuitable for use elsewhere. In a different context, its lifetime can be extended by many more years, either with the same function or with lighter loads. For example, if a bridge is moved from a main route to a subsidiary route with lighter traffic, it will not need to be written off. The savings in terms of primary resources and reduced C02 emissions will also make a real contribution to meeting climate goals.
Finding the right bridge
The reuse of bridges stems from policy objectives such as circular building and reduced extraction of primary resources. These objectives should therefore be stated explicitly by any project that requires a bridge or makes one available. Various types of assignment can result – to assess the options for reusing an available bridge, for example, or first to seek available bridges that can be used as the basis for building a new one. If such assignments are unsuccessful, a new design will be needed – preferably for a future-proof bridge that can later be dismantled. Bridges Currently Available shows all the bridges that are currently available for reuse or will soon be available.
If no suitable bridges are available under Bridges Currently Available, you can use the link to Find a Bridge to search the website of the Dutch National Bridge Exchange
Add a bridge to the Exchange
If you have a bridge or bridge components that are available for reuse, you can reach us here: Add a Bridge. We will then contact you to discuss how they can be announced on the website.