Nearly a fourth of the bridges on main roads in the Netherlands are in bad need of repairs, the Dutch daily Algemeen Dagblad reports. The paper cited the Dutch Directorate-General of Public Works and Water Management, which took stock of the bridges it is responsible for and concluded that 23% of them are overdue for maintenance. The report said most of the faults were likely to cause minor disruptions at most, not serious accidents. However, Infrastructure Minister Melanie Schultz said she would take action and that the costs might reach 5.5 million Euros. The money will be used to fix many minor inconveniences like loose guard rails, but there are also well-known examples of more serious damage like the hairline cracks in girders of the Merwede Bridge. This viaduct, situated on one of the main north-south arteries in the heavily populated Randstad area, was closed to all truck traffic from October to December last year, forcing truck drivers to take a 40-mile detour.
“The importance of adequate management and maintenance has been receiving more and more attention over the past few years,” said Schultz.
Of course, the bridges’ age contributes to their flagging state of repair, but how they’re used is another important factor. You probably recognize this. The equipment you work with is often past its prime, and maybe you’re using it for heavier loads than it was designed for. Perhaps you’ve even added yards of piping. Isn’t it time to share your experiences and tips with the Directorate-General… or have you already done so?
