Mammoet assisted Rijkswaterstaat - the Dutch government agency responsible for public works and water management - and contracting joint venture KWS-VES-DDM in the night-time removal of the bridge at Vianen.

The arch bridge no longer had a function following the opening of two new bridges for the A2 motorway near Vianen. In recent years, various options have been explored for reusing the bridge, whether in its entirety or in parts, either at its current location or elsewhere. None of the possibilities turned out to be feasible. Rijkswaterstaat is now working on plans for a monument for the arch bridge.

The bridge arch has a weight of approximately 5,000t and a height of approximately 30m. To carry out the work, Mammoet built a large gantry system to support and lift the arch. Eight masts were mounted on a pontoon that was placed under the bridge. They were linked to the eight lifting towers on the bridge. The pontoon took over the weight of the bridge at high tide.

Removal of the bridge at Vianen - Mammoet

Environment manager for Rijkswaterstaat Sascha Oskam said: “I am extremely proud that we managed this extensive operation together. The removal was safe and controlled. Our contractor combination KWS-VES-DDM has done a great job.”

Removal of the bridge at Vianen - Mammoet

Over the next 17 days, the steel arch will be cut into pieces in the outer harbour of the Princess Beatrix Lock. Mammoet is working on the task 24 hours a day.

The bridge will soon be small enough to pass under the adjacent Jan Blankenbrug Bridge for final demolition at the Mammoet shipyard in Schiedam. Here, the steel parts will be made even smaller and transported to an authorised processor to be turned into raw material.