Over a total length of 12 km, a new motorway was built between the N31 in Bruges and the N49 in Westkapelle. The A11 crosses the Boudewijn Canal, requiring the construction of a new bridge, later named the Roskam Bridge.
Over a total length of 12 kilometres, a new motorway was built between the N31 in Bruges and the N49 in Westkapelle. This intervention created a smooth connection between the Port of Zeebrugge and the hinterland.
This project was delivered through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), based on a DBFM agreement between the public authorities and a private partner. The consortium “Via Brugge” submitted the winning bid. Commissioned by Grontmij (now Sweco), the consortium’s engineering consultancy, SBE carried out the detailed design of a double movable bridge.
The A11 crosses the Boudewijn Canal via two movable bascule bridges, allowing large vessels to pass. The Roskam Bridge was the first bascule bridge integrated into a Belgian motorway. The orthotropic deck is supported between two trusses balanced on the main pivot points. Unlike a traditional bascule bridge, the counterweight is not located in an underground structure but is freely suspended beneath the viaduct in the open position.
The use of two bascule bridges ensures that traffic for smaller vessels is not hindered, as they can easily pass underneath the bridges when closed. Each bridge accommodates two traffic lanes and a hard shoulder. The bridges open within 90 seconds.
SBE carried out the execution study of the steel superstructure of both bridges:
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