Van Brienenoord

The construction of the Van Brienenoord bridge began in the early 1930s. However, the allocated funds for the connection were used for the Maastunnel instead.

Due to the increasing economic prosperity after the war and the subsequent rise in traffic, there was a plan to build a ring road, which later became the Rotterdam Ring Road. This required not only new roads but also bridges and tunnels.

A bridge was intended to be built over the Nieuwe Maas in the eastern part of the city, while a tunnel was to be dug under the river to the west, known as the Beneluxtunnel (1967).

Construction

Around 1961, the construction site was prepared. The entire bridge was built on-site, causing significant disruption in the Oud IJsselmonde area. Piles of soil, sand, clay, and large excavations were present in the village and its surroundings. To construct the 290-meter arch, temporary auxiliary pillars were built in the water, connected by a small bridge. Heavy materials were transported using a floating dock.

The design by W.J. van der Eb from the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management was considered revolutionary at that time. The distinct diagonal cables that support the pavement provided the structure with exceptional stability.

In 1962, the bridge was officially named Van Brienenoord after the nearby Brienenoord island.

The color of the bridge has changed over the years. It was initially red, then painted green, and has been white for quite some time now.

The bridge’s capacity was soon deemed inadequate. In 1986, expansion work began to double the size of the Van Brienenoord bridge and upgrade the connecting roads.

To minimize disruptions to maritime traffic, the second arch was constructed in Zwijndrecht. In 1989, the new arch was successfully installed.

On May 1, 1990, the second Van Brienenoord bridge was officially opened, effectively doubling the capacity of this section of the A16 highway.

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