How to proceed with the Mandela Bridge?

Around the turn of the year 22/23, we suddenly had to spring into action because it had been discovered that the Nelson Mandela Bridge had a construction fault (wrong reinforcement in the lugs) and was not certain to be safe. We then rushed to reinforce important parts of the bridge with the help of a lot of partners and took out the section above the highway and replaced it with a rented emergency bridge.

It can't stay like this, because the emergency measures are not suitable for the somewhat longer term, and moreover ugly. We as a college have looked at all possible solutions from all sides. There is now a proposal before the City Council to decide on the following outlines:

  • Reconstruction bridge: Here we are going to make the columns that support the bridge so that the bearing capacity is increased.
  • Modify canopy structure: This is to ensure that the canopy is lighter. In doing so, the canopy must be placed on the bridge in such a way as to leave space on the sides from where the canopy can be cleaned on the outside.
  • New slow-traffic connection: this involves a bicycle/foot bridge that will come between the Mandela Bridge and Zuidweg Road. So that will be a new viaduct over the A12 and the railroad for pedestrians and cyclists without elevators and escalators. For cyclists and mopeds, the new viaduct will provide a good alternative, reducing the amount of traffic the Mandela Bridge has to handle.
  • OV plans: Finally, the City Council is asked to abandon a bus platform above the A12 for now. Centrum West appears to be excellent as a public transport hub so relocation is not necessary. However, there are plans in the future for bus line 400 to continue to the Mandela Bridge and then on to Lansingerland.

If the City Council agrees to these plans, we will be busy for a few more years with architects, engineers and people from HTM, ProRail and Rijkswaterstaat to prepare everything. They not only have to think about the best technical solutions, but also how the work can be realized with as little inconvenience as possible.

That means that in a few years there will be major work on the bridge and the new viaduct and that will cause quite a bit of inconvenience. But when it's all finished, we'll be able to use it again for decades to come!

Marijke van der Meer
District councilor Rokkeveen