The Spijkenisse Bridge spans the Oude Maas, a busy main waterway between the North Sea and the hinterland. Intensive shipping traffic and strong currents caused erosion of the water bottom over the years. This led to deep erosion near the bridge, with risks to the stability of the structure and the safety of the waterway.

Recurring work
Van den Herik performed maintenance and repair work several times on behalf of the Department of Public Works and the Water Board to stabilize the soil, prevent further erosion and strengthen the banks, with minimal disruption to navigation.

For example, in 2018 and 2019, we installed large sinkholes and capped them with bulk stone. In addition, the embankments of the dike near Spijkenisse have been reinforced with filter layers and crushed stone, finished with a robust top layer. The work was carried out in phases, continuously taking into account the passage of shipping.

In 2021, we filled an emerging pit with about 140,000m³ of sand, partly from the deepening of the New Waterway. This pit could cause the bridge to become unstable.

Safe fairway
The bottom and banks around the Spijkenisse Bridge have been successfully stabilized and protected from further erosion. The structure again meets safety requirements and the waterway remains reliable and easily navigable. These interventions have extended the life of the infrastructure and made the Oude Maas more resistant to future loads.