Sluiseiland Gentbrugge

Integrated Delivery of a New Bridge in Gentbrugge

LOCATION
Gentbrugge, Ghent, Belgium

TYPE
Composite Bicycle Bridge

MATERIAL
Composite

PROJECT SCOPE
Delivery and installation

COMPLETION
2024

CLIENT
De Vlaamse Waterweg

As part of its integrated approach, BestBridges, commissioned by De Vlaamse Waterweg, has installed a new bridge over the lock complex in Gentbrugge. Cyclists and pedestrians can now cross the water via a 4.5-meter-wide bridge. Until now, there had only been a narrow 1.2-meter passageway over the lock gates, known locally as the “saskes.” During rush hour, up to 700 people pass through here per hour, amounting to approximately 3,000 users per day.

The structure is a 17-meter-long composite bridge that was transported from the Netherlands to Ghent via special transport. It was installed at night to minimize disruption to the surrounding area.

Bicycle route across the lock complex

The previous crossing toward Arbed and Keizerpark was anything but ideal: a narrow passageway over the grates of the lock gates, where cyclists had to dismount and barely had room to pass each other. Not only was this impractical, but it also created unsafe situations.

Thanks to our new bridge, we now have a smooth, safe, and pleasant connection. It provides a comfortable crossing for cyclists, as well as for walkers and joggers.

Thanks to the prefabrication process and the pre-assembled composite handrails, the bridge could be easily transported and installed at the construction site with minimal disruption to traffic and nearby residents.

The new bridge was installed in a single night, allowing cyclists and pedestrians to enjoy a safer, more comfortable, and smoother connection today.

Better Mobility for Tomorrow

It is estimated that approximately 3,000 people had to pass each other at this location every day, which caused congestion and delays during peak hours. Through effective collaboration, precise engineering, and efficient execution, this bottleneck was eliminated, thereby contributing to the City of Ghent’s vision for sustainable public infrastructure. This case study demonstrates the power of composite structures as a low-maintenance, robust, and quick-to-install solution for modern bicycle and pedestrian bridges.

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