Improved traffic flow and optimised safety on the A15

Realising one of Europe's biggest lifting bridges

A15 Maasvlakte-Vaanplein

In total, the consortium has added 85 km of extra lanes to the A15 highway. We also construced the Botlekbrug: one of the largest lift bridges in Europe. As a result of smart planning and execution, the A-Lanes A15 consortium, of which Ballast Nedam is a part, has minimized the nuisance caused by the operation.

  • 36 fly-overs reconstructed
  • 12 new civil structures
  • 85 kilometres extra road lanes
This PPP project includes upgrading a 37 km long section of the A15 motorway between the Maasvlakte and the Vaanplein, the construction of a new Botlek Bridge for road and port rail traffic, the reconstruction of the Botlek and Thomassen Tunnels, the reconstruction of 36 fly-overs, the construction of twelve new civil structures, a dynamic traffic management system for the entire section of motorway and the maintenance of existing and new roads and engineering structures until 2035.

Botlek Bridge

The most eye-catching landmark of the A15 Maasvlakte – Vaanplein motorway widening project is the new Botlek Bridge: one of the largest lifting bridges in Europe. The new bridge has a taller vertical clearance, which means a lower opening frequency, and shipping can simultaneously pass the bridge on both sides. In addition, the number of road lanes in both directions has been increased from one to two, promoting better traffic flow by road. The Botlek Road Tunnel is still in use, alongside the new bridge.

Lifting towers and decks

The new Botlek Bridge is a lifting bridge with two bridge decks suspended between six lifting towers. Two sets of red cable pulleys are installed on each tower and the deck of the new Botlek Bridge is raised and lowered via cables running over these cable pulleys.

The separate components of the two decks were produced in Germany and were specifically designed to be suitable for transport by road. The components were brought to Schiedam by lorry in a total of 220 trips. The decks were assembled simultaneously on the pier at Mammoet before being floated into position. This approach, involving manufacture in Germany and assembly close to the bridge's location, is unique.

The A-Lanes A15 consortium carrying out the A15 Maasvlakte – Vaanplein project consists of Ballast Nedam, John Laing, Strabag and Strukton.

More information?

Sander Lefevre

Managing Director Ballast Nedam Infra Projects a.i.

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