Working on the Amstel

It is fully certified, quick to attach and accessories are easy to mount. All conditions for working safely and efficiently, as here on the Amstel River under the Rozenoord Bridge.

The Rozenoord Bridge is located in the A10 and crosses the Amstel River near the Amstel Park. With an average of 4,600 passing vehicles per hour, the A10 is one of the busiest national highways in our country and the most important highway in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. It is the only highway built entirely as a ring road in the Netherlands.

Construction of this highway began as early as 1962. The southern section, of which the Rozenoord Bridge is a part, was not completed until 1981. Since then, automobile traffic has increased at breakneck speed and trucks have become significantly heavier. Especially the southern part of the bridge suffered. After a thorough inspection, it was found that cracks had developed in the concrete due to uneven loading. Therefore, the bridge had to be reinforced.

Additional pillars

Exactly in the middle of the river, the Rozenoord Bridge is supported by heavy concrete columns, which stand on an “island” consisting of a concrete foundation. It is precisely in that place that extra support is needed. In this situation, they opted for steel columns filled with concrete, meters high pillars that could only be erected straight from the water.

Actually, there was only one way to do this job: from an ultra-stable pontoon with great buoyancy and sufficient carrying capacity. Van Schie has one such innovative pontoon, the VSP770 pontoon, fully certified for this type of work, equipped with a Certificate of Examination (CVO) and a stability calculation for working with both an aerial work platform and a hoist.

The pontoon is equipped all around with approved fencing, fairway markings and navigation lights. Everything is also provided in terms of safety, such as life buoys, life jackets, fire extinguishers and a first aid kit. After installing the pillars, a platform was mounted between them to facilitate subsequent inspections. The entire operation was a project of de Boer Civiele Technieken BV of Nieuwegein.

The many advantages of the VSP770 pontoon

• Great buoyancy
• High deck load
• Flat non-slip floor
• Smart sizing
• Innovative coupling system*
• Efficient to transport
• Fully certified
• Many accessories
• Modern spud pole system (radio-controlled)
• Clean deck, fully usable (no cables and winches)

No more loose pins, half-moons or other fittings. With the VSP system, the couplings are part of the pontoon itself. They fall into place with one foot movement.