News Nelson Mandela Bridge
Update October 17, 2024 - Mandela Bridge Lifts
Please visit zoetermeer.nl/mandelabrug for the most up-to-date situation known to us.
Update March 17, 2023 - Nootdorpsepad cycle path open again
Good news for cyclists: the Nootdorpsepad at the Nelson Mandelabrug will reopen at 16:00 at the latest. Thanks for your patience!
Update February 17, 2023 - Zuidweg open again from 4pm
The Zuidweg will reopen on Friday 17 February at 4:00 PM. RET bus line 170 and EBS bus lines 455 and 71 will also resume their normal route over the Zuidweg The two bus stops on the A12 under the Nelson Mandela Bridge will remain closed for the time being.
Update January 27, 2023
After being closed for 55 days, the Nelson Mandela Bridge is fully operational again. Cyclists and pedestrians can cross it again. The Zoetermeer railway station and the Driemanspolder RandstadRail stop are also operational again.
Please note: scooters and mopeds are not allowed on the bridge!
Alderman Marijke van der Meer opened the bridge on 26 January at 18:45. At 19:04 the first train stopped at Zoetermeer station. The first passengers were welcomed by alderman Ingeborg ter Laak with cookies. The bridge was immediately used again by pedestrians and cyclists.
View the photos of the opening.
Update January 24, 2023 - Bridge opens Thursday January 26, 7:00 PM
On Thursday 26 January, 19:00, the Nelson Mandela Bridge will reopen for pedestrians and cyclists. The NS trains will also stop at Zoetermeer station again. From Friday 27 January, the RandstadRail will stop at Driemanspolder again. There will also be no more shuttle buses from Friday 27 January.
The diversion on the Zuidweg towards the Afrikaweg remains some time. To be on the Zuidweg to be able to use two lanes again, the road is being adjusted. It is expected that the Zuidweg will be fully used again in the course of February.
The closed section of the Nootdorpsepad cycle path will also reopen in February. Work is currently still taking place here.
This week, basic support for the sections of the Nelson Mandela Bridge above the NS track and the Zuidweg completed. The ramps to the emergency bridge will also be completed. After the opening of the bridge on Thursday 26 January, the work will continue. The support will be completed and the work areas will be cleared.
Until the work is completed, no buses will stop at the bus stop along the A12 and the temporary bus stops at Zoetermeer Station in Rokkeveen are still in use.
Update January 19, 2023
Work on the Nelson Mandela Bridge is still ongoing. After the removal of the bridge section over the A12 on 29 December 2022, additional research was carried out into the crack formation in the bridge. This shows that the damage to the bridge is currently less than previously thought, but the research confirms that there is a construction error in the bridge that needs to be repaired. The further securing of the bridge will be carried out in two parts.
Basic support has been started for the parts above the NS track and the Zuidweg in combination with monitoring. At that point, the bridge is safe to open. After that, the support will be completed and additional measures will be taken, so that monitoring can be discontinued. Finally, a plan will be made for structural repair of the bridge. We will continue monitoring until sufficient measures have been taken. There is no need to support the bridge section above the RandstadRail at this time. However, monitoring will continue here.
The basic support (part 1) is currently being carried out and work is being done on the stairs and ramps that should make the use of the emergency bridge possible. There is a height difference of 1.30 meters between the existing bridge parts and the emergency bridge. The bridge can open in January 2023 at least. The exact date will follow when there is a definitive schedule and we can guarantee the opening.
Not only is work being done to secure the bridge, but also to develop a plan for structural repair. That is why the girders of the bridge section above the A12 section are not being dismantled and transported to the Nieuwe Driemanspolder, but will remain on the work site where they are now, pending the repair plan. The Nootdorpsepad is closed due to the work site. Since the work site will be used for a longer period, a solution is being sought for the cycle path.
Read more about this in the memo of January 13, 2023 to the municipal council.
Update January 6, 2023
Unfortunately, it will not be possible to safely reopen the Nelson Mandela Bridge to pedestrians and cyclists on 15 January 2023. The work to support the bridge is taking longer than expected. This means that public transport passengers will not be able to get on and off at the NS Zoetermeer station and the RandstadRail stop Driemanspolder.
Currently, together with the contractor, we are looking at what measures are possible to accelerate the work in a safe manner, so that the bridge can be put back into use in January at least. Read more about this in the memo of 6 January 2023 to the municipal council.
As soon as there is a new schedule we will let you know. Keep an eye on the website www.zoetermeer.nl/mandelabrug and our socials for updates.
Update December 31, 2022
The A12 motorway near Zoetermeer reopened to traffic in both directions on Friday evening, December 30 at 23:45. This was possible earlier than planned because the work on the Nelson Mandela Bridge went smoothly.
Update December 30, 2022
The replacement of the bridge section above the A12 was successful yesterday. But securing the bridge is not yet finished. Work is still ongoing on supporting the bridge section over the Zuidweg and the support of the section above the train track still needs to be done. That is still quite a job.
On Thursday evening, a replacement bridge section was placed above the A12. This is an open bridge section with walls that are 1.80 meters high. This temporary bridge is somewhat higher than the existing bridge sections, so ramps will be installed to ensure the bridge can be used properly. In the meantime, we are also looking at what measures may be necessary for the section above the RandstadRail. Precisely because the section above the A12 has been removed, we can properly investigate the condition of the bridge. The cracks on the section above the RandstadRail are also still being closely monitored. If everything is safe, the Mandela Bridge will reopen on January 15, 2023, but that is not yet certain. Only about a third of the work has been completed.
The extended bridge section has been moved to a work site between the A12 and the RandstadRail. At this location, the bridge section will be further dismantled in the coming days, with as many parts as possible being saved for reuse.
For the continuation of the work for the support of the bridge above the Zuidweg from Monday, January 2, 2023 at 7:00 AM, the northern carriageway of the Zuidweg closed again. This is the lane towards the Afrikaweg. The closure of the Zuidweg begins at the intersection with the Mahatma Gandhisingel. A diversion route is indicated with signs. More information can be found at Consequences for traffic .
Many media made beautiful recordings of the bridge section being driven out yesterday, view the photos and these videos:
- Region 15: Nelson Mandela Bridge above A12 in Zoetermeer removed | Regio15.nl
- Omroep West: Part of Nelson Mandela Bridge removed: 'Everything went according to plan' - Omroep West
- Algemeen Dagblad: There goes the Mandela Bridge! The bridge section over the A12 is gone (leaving a hole as a result) | Top Stories Zoetermeer | AD.nl
Update December 29, 2022, 3:00 PM
The removal of the bridge section above the A12 went well. Now the bridge section is being placed next to the A12. This morning the day started with a press conference, see here some photos of today. More will follow.
Update December 28, 2022
On Thursday 29 December, the bridge section of the Nelson Mandela Bridge above the A12 will be replaced by a temporary bridge section. The A12 near Zoetermeer will therefore be closed until Saturday morning 31 December at 8:00.
The section of the Nelson Mandela Bridge above the A12 will be removed. A replacement bridge section will be built in its place. The other bridge sections will remain. Those over the Zuidweg and the station will receive additional support. The work for this is in full swing. Whether this is also necessary for the part over the RandstadRail is still being examined.
The bridge section above the A12, which weighs approximately 800 tons, will be lifted on Thursday and transported to the side by two special vehicles with a total of approximately 200 wheels underneath. A steel construction will be built on top of that, on which the bridge section will rest. This total construction weighs approximately 200 tons. In total, approximately one million kilos must drive over the A12. That is why the A12 will first be reinforced and protected with plates. When everything is ready, the A12 will be returned to its original state and the central reservation and crash barriers will also be put back.
The bridge section is moved to a work site between the A12 and the RandstadRail. There, four cranes (two on each side of the bridge section) take over the weight. The vehicles then drive out from underneath and the cranes lower the bridge section to the ground. At this location, the bridge section is further dismantled, whereby we save as many parts as possible for reuse. In the meantime, a replacement bridge section is placed back on the vacant spot of the bridge.
If all goes well, the Nelson Mandela Bridge can be put back into use on 15 January. The bridge will look very different, because the part of the glass roof above the A12 will not be back for the time being. In total, the costs are estimated at a maximum of eight million euros based on the current plans.
The A12 motorway between Utrecht and The Hague will be completely closed in both directions near Zoetermeer from Tuesday 27 December 22:00 until Saturday morning 31 December 08:00. Due to the closure of the A12, it is expected that it will be very busy with car traffic on the main roads in and around Zoetermeer.
For route information, see www.rijkswaterstaat.nl/activiteiten or www.vananaarbeter.nl . X: @RWSverkeersinfo, @RWS_WNZ, or call 0800-8002 (free). Also see Rijkswaterstaat.nl and www.zoetermeer.nl/nelsonmandelabrug .
During the work on the bridge, the train and RandstadRail will continue to run, but it will not be possible to get on and off at the RandstadRail stop Driemanspolder and NS station Zoetermeer.
Travelers can use the special HTM duo return ticket . This allows two people to travel through the region for €5 (there and back). There are also children's day tickets For €1.50 a child can travel unlimitedly on HTM buses and trams all day long.
The work can be followed live 24 hours a day via a webcam on this website .
Update December 27, 2022
Would you like to know how the replacement of the bridge section above the A12 is going to work? Watch the video from Omroep West in which our contractor on the bridge explains what is going to happen.
Update December 20, 2022 - A12
The A12 motorway near Zoetermeer between Utrecht and The Hague will be completely closed in both directions from Tuesday 27 December 22:00 until Saturday morning 31 December 8:00.
During this closure, the municipality of Zoetermeer will remove the section of the Nelson Mandela Bridge that runs over the A12 and replace it with a temporary bridge section. This will cause significant disruption. Road users must follow a diversion and take into account an additional travel time of 30 to 45 minutes. During busy periods, the additional travel time can be up to 1.5 hours. See www.rijkswaterstaat.nl | A12 near Zoetermeer closed between Christmas and New Year's Eve 2022 . Read more at Traffic consequences .
During the work on the bridge, the train and RandstadRail will continue to run.
Update December 19, 2022 - A12
Due to preparatory work on the Nelson Mandela Bridge, several lanes of the A12 will be closed from tonight. The closure will be in effect from Monday 19 December to Thursday 22 December between approximately 21:30 and 05:30. However, there may be some disruption because fewer lanes will be available. At least one lane will always remain open to traffic.
The closure is necessary because glass plates are being removed from the roof in preparation for the removal of the bridge section over the highway.
For route information, see www.rijkswaterstaat.nl/activiteiten or www.vananaarbeter.nl More information will be announced shortly about the consequences of removing the bridge section for traffic on the A12.
Update December 16, 2022 - Zuidweg
From Monday, December 19, 7:00 AM, the northern carriageway of the Zuidweg closed. This is the lane towards the Afrikaweg. The closure of the Zuidweg starts at the intersection with the Mahatma Gandhisingel. There is a diversion via the Mahatma Gandhisingel, Albert Schweitzersingel and Houtsingel. This is indicated with signs.
On the southern carriageway of the Zuidweg (towards Oostweg) from 19 December, only the bus lane and part of the right-turn lane will be closed at the Nelson Mandela Bridge. This will keep traffic on the southern carriageway of the Zuidweg possible.
From Monday 19 December, the bus stop at Zoetermeer station in Rokkeveen will not be in use. This will affect several bus lines. There will be temporary other stops and changed routes. More information can be found at Consequences for public transport .
The closure is expected to last until 4pm on Friday 23 December. This is dependent on the completion of the work to support the bridge section of the Nelson Mandela Bridge above the Zuidweg This will start on Monday, December 19th.
More information can be found under ' Consequences for traffic '.
Update December 13, 2022
The Nelson Mandela Bridge in Zoetermeer can be put back into use no later than 15 January. The Nelson Mandela Bridge will be partially dismantled. The bridge section over the A12 motorway will disappear in its entirety, including the glass roof. A temporary and replacement bridge section will be built in its place. The bridge sections over the railway track and the Zuidweg will receive a support structure. Supporting the bridge section above the RandstadRail does not seem necessary at this time.
The bridge will be safe to use again for a few years. A temporary bridge section will allow the stations and the important connection between Rokkeveen and Centrum to be used again quickly after the work. This will give us time to work out the plans for a new bridge together with the development of the area and to restore the Nelson Mandela Bridge sustainably.
What's going to happen?
The bridge sections are removed by driving them out. This means that the bridge sections, including the glass roof, are moved in their entirety to an adjacent piece of greenery along the A12. There, the bridge section is taken apart and removed. The removed construction of the part of the characteristic glass roof is stored for reuse. The metal artwork, which runs through the entire bridge, is also retained and stored. A temporary bridge deck is replaced to make the connection into one whole again.
This week, the construction site will be set up and work will continue in and around the bridge. The first barriers will also be placed on the Zuidweg and bus lanes become visible, with the exception of the A12 highway.
It looks like this combination of measures can be completed by mid-January at the latest. This is what is known about the work at the moment. During the preparation and execution it may become apparent that other work is also necessary. For example, it is not yet entirely certain whether the roof on the other bridge sections can be retained.
After completion of the work, the bridge and stations are expected to be put back into use quickly. When exactly this will be, is not yet known.
Perspective
After taking these measures, the bridge will be safe for the coming period. In the meantime, we are working on the plans that have been in place for a new bicycle bridge and bus stops above the A12, which will make it a better public transport hub. The new bicycle bridge can also be used temporarily by pedestrians and temporarily connected to the station. According to the current planning, this will be ready in three years. After that, the Nelson Mandela Bridge can be renovated and used for pedestrians and as a station hall.
Cause
As of Friday, December 2, 2022, the Nelson Mandela Bridge will be closed to all traffic using the bridge. This restriction was imposed immediately for safety reasons, following an extensive investigation into previously discovered cracks in the bridge. Rijkswaterstaat urgently advised to take measures before January 1. It seemed necessary to extensively dismantle the Mandela Bridge or remove the cover and keep the bridge safe with a different construction. Last week, various scenarios were developed to keep the bridge safe. This led to the board's decision today to take the measures mentioned above.
Mandela Bridge remains closed
Cyclists and pedestrians currently have no access to the bridge. Zoetermeer train station also remains inaccessible, as well as RandstadRail stop Driemanspolder and bus stop Mandelabrug. There is replacement transport for passengers to Zoetermeer-Oost station.