Replacement of Botlek Lifting Bridge, Motorway A15, Netherlands

The new Botlek twin lifting bridge is one of the largest lifting bridges in the world and currently under construction as part of the new extended Motorway A15 from Vaanplein to Maasvlakte in the harbour of Rotterdam and part of the respective DBFM project. The bridge will accommodate two navigation channels of approximately 90 m each, and provide a vertical clearance of 14,60 m for crossing road and rail traffic and a lifted clearance of 45,60 m for large ship traffic. The lifting time for the 5.000 to lifting weight per deck is limited to 90 seconds and requires a fully balanced lifting system. The subject of this paper will focus on the bridge functionality, the design requirements, the interaction between railway and roadway actions, lifting requirements, the dimensioning of the massive concrete foundations of approx. 60 m length, 16 m width and 30 m height and the approx. 100 m long and 50 m wide three steel truss girder lifting elements.