Location:
Gentbrugge, Gent, Belgium
Bridge Type:
Composite Cycling Bridge
Project Scope:
Delivery and Installation
Completion:
2024
Client:
De Vlaamse Waterweg
Through its integrated approach, BestBridges, commissioned by De Vlaamse Waterweg, delivered and installed a new bridge across the lock complex in Ghentbrugge. Cyclists and pedestrians can now cross the water via a 4.5-metre-wide bridge. Until now, only a narrow 1.2-metre-wide passage across the lock gates was available, locally known as the ‘saskes’. During peak hours, up to 700 people use this crossing every hour, amounting to approximately 3,000 users per day.
The new structure is a 17-metre-long composite bridge that was transported from the Netherlands to Ghent by special convoy. To minimise disruption to the surrounding area, the installation was carried out overnight.
The former crossing towards Arbed and Keizerpark was far from ideal: a narrow passage over the lock gate grating where cyclists had to dismount and had very limited space to pass one another. Besides being inconvenient, it also created unsafe situations.
The new bridge has created a smooth, safe, and pleasant connection for all users. It offers a comfortable crossing not only for cyclists, but also for pedestrians and joggers.
Thanks to the prefabricated design and pre-installed composite railings, the bridge could be transported and installed with minimal disruption to traffic and local residents. The entire installation was completed in a single night, allowing cyclists and pedestrians to immediately benefit from a safer, more comfortable, and more efficient crossing.
It is estimated that around 3,000 people previously had to pass one another at this location every day, causing congestion and delays during peak hours. Through effective collaboration, precise engineering, and efficient execution, this bottleneck has been eliminated, contributing to the City of Ghent’s vision for sustainable public infrastructure.
This project demonstrates the strength of composite structures as a low-maintenance, robust, and rapidly installable solution for modern pedestrian and cycling bridges.
Various types of wooden balustrades are available, made of tropical hardwood such as Azobé or Bilinga. These balustrades offer great architectural freedom, allowing them to be perfectly adapted to the bridge’s design. The balustrades are easily dismountable, ensuring easy long-term maintenance without affecting the integrity of the bridge.
