It may take “quite a few weeks” before the bridge in the Prinses Margriet Canal near Skûlenboarch is repaired. This is what a spokesperson for Rijkswaterstaat said. The bridge was struck by freighter Fidelis on Saturday evening.
The ship first rammed the closed bridge and then pushed the bridge open. Rijkswaterstaat has opened the bridge to shipping traffic. Road traffic must detour via the bridge at Kootstertille.
Rijkswaterstaat had a crane ship remove parts of the bridge from the canal on Sunday. “There is also a diving team on the way that can remove the last of it. Hopefully the waterway will be completely free for shipping traffic again,” says a spokesperson.
Eight weeks
Inspection of the bridge revealed that damage had occurred to the gearbox and structure of the bridge. “We expect that the recovery will take quite a few weeks. We now estimate that to be eight weeks, but because we don’t know exactly what the foundation is like, for example, we are cautious.”
In the near future, a diving team will also enter the water to view the foundation. “So something may be broken there as well. The bridge suffered a serious collision and we do not know what that did to the foundation.”
Until the bridge is repaired, no road traffic can pass by.
Police
The police are investigating the cause. According to a spokesperson, a breath test did not show that he had drunk too much. “But how and what further, we are still investigating. We are talking to the skipper, looking at the ship and technical matters.”
The investigation is carried out by the Traffic Specialists Team. “They are still happy with that today.”
2024-02-04 14:36:11
#Restoration #bridge #Skûlenboarch #weeks #bridge #damaged
