With the Albert Cuyp underground car park and the "De Entree" station forecourt, both in Amsterdam, as well as the construction of the Spoorbrug Zuidhorn near Groningen, we present three impressive infrastructure projects. They are exemplary for the performance and innovative strength of our Dutch location. And they show that, thanks to creative ideas and new tendering procedures, we can also offer our clients tailor-made solutions for these complex construction tasks. Solutions that have been judged and selected not only for their price, but also for their quality.
Spoorbrug Zuidhorn
In order to cope with the increasing freight traffic on the water, a new 180-metre bridge will replace the existing railway bridge over the Van Starkenborghkanaal as of March 2018. The new single-track arch bridge is longer and higher than its 1931 counterpart and will in future also enable larger inland vessels to pass safely on the canal. After 70,000 cubic metres of earth had been filled in to build the railway embankments and the shallow foundations and abutments to support the peripheral fields, the arched bridge was welded together at a pre-assembly site on the bank. The individual segments of the approximately 1,600-ton steel superstructure had previously been manufactured in the group's steel structure and transported by water to Zuidhorn. The floating-in took place at the beginning of July 2017. For this purpose, the steel arched bridge was slewed across the canal with the aid of pontoons, blocking shipping traffic for two days, and installed in the exact position directly next to the old bridge using heavy-duty kamag. The edge elements were then lifted and welded and the hybrid bridge slab made of precast slabs and in-situ concrete. After completion of the remaining work and installation of the new track beddings, the tracks were connected to the new bridge construction during a three-day track closure at the end of September. The existing structure will then be demolished and the old foundation made of wooden piles will be removed during ongoing shipping operations.
Albert Cuyp underground car park
Since January 2016, the construction of a 260 x 30 metre underground car park with the project name "Boerenwetering Garage" has been a unique construction project in Amsterdam with special challenges. The underground parking space for 600 cars and 60 bicycles includes two parking levels and will be built in the popular "de Pijp" district directly under an existing canal. The construction process is correspondingly complex in several construction phases. In order to enclose the excavation pit in a watertight manner, sheet pile walls were erected that remain permanently in the ground. Excavators on barges then began excavating the excavation pit at a depth of over ten metres. A steel stamped frame provides the necessary stability for the sheet pile walls. In order to protect the underground car park from lifting and settlement, the structure is anchored up to 14 metres deep in the ground with around 1,300 GEWI anchors. More than 7,000 cubic metres of steel-fibre-reinforced underwater concrete were placed for the subsequent concreting of the base slab. Several diving teams accompanied the concrete paving. After the concrete had cured, the excavation pit was drained and 70,000 cubic metres of water pumped out in February 2017. The concreting of the underground garage floor and the installation of the precast walls and columns as well as the element slabs are currently taking place parallel to the north and south. The completion of the garage roof is scheduled for autumn 2017. Once the stamp frame has been removed, the technical rooms and access ramps can also be concreted. In the subsequent expansion phase, the operating technology (fans, lighting, parking and charging technology for electric cars) will be installed and the glass access buildings including the lifts will be erected. Together with the entry and exit ramp, they will be the only components visible on the surface after the flooding of the waterway. With the completion of the building in spring 2018, Max Bögl will take over the operation of the underground car park for the next 15 years.
Station forecourt "De Entree"
The city centre around the central railway station and the station island with its surrounding waterways is one of the most heavily frequented traffic areas. Every day, up to 300,000 travellers pass through the busy area between the railway station, Damrak, Schreierstoren and Droogbak. In favour of additional pedestrian and cycle paths, the urban space will be redesigned over the next five years almost car-free and sustainably upgraded by new water areas. The core of the 90 million euro project is the construction of a large underground bicycle garage with up to 7,000 parking spaces. Traffic on the well-known Prins Hendrikkade between Martelaarsgracht and Damrak will also be calmed down to improve the quality of life. Construction is due to start in January 2018. After extensive preliminary work and detailed planning, the road will first be lowered in the area of the track overpass on the west side of the station. In this way, the city centre with its numerous shops can still be easily reached by larger vehicles. With a bundle of further measures, for example to reduce noise and dust, obstructions for residents and users are to be reduced to a tolerable level. The construction work will follow the rhythm of the city. In addition, intensive communication and the involvement of people in the planning and construction process during the entire construction period are also important.
