Longest bicycle and pedestrian bridge Flanders now open

Imposing bridge with an elegant design

Ralph Kieft, architect-partner at ZJA, says, "To integrate this long bridge into the built environment, we have designed it to be as light and transparent as possible, and given it a semi-integral structure. The deck and balustrades are made of white-coated steel, supported by V-shaped grey steel columns with cut-away corners. With its gradual rise in a single curve, its straight trajectory and its even distribution of spans, the bridge makes a long, fluid gesture, marking the boundary between Flanders and the Brussels Region."

"Werken aan de Ring" programme

With a total length of 710 metres — a steel bridge structure of 510 metres and two abutments of 100 metres each — it is currently the longest bicycle and pedestrian bridge in Flanders.

The new bridge is part of the "Werken aan de Ring" programme, aimed at improving mobility and the lived environment in the area surrounding the Brussels Ring. Over the next few years, investments will be made to upgrade public transport, renovate the Brussels Ring and create safe, fast cycling connections.

Comfortable and safe crossing

The bridge effectively overcomes the barrier presented by the A201, without being a challenge to cyclists and pedestrians. Its length is such that the crossing does not feature a steep incline but instead a gentle slope, making it comfortable for all types of cyclists. Furthermore, pedestrians can easily reach the tram stops on either side of the A201 by means of generous, shallow steps. The use of two colours in the deck visually separates the paths intended for cyclists and for pedestrians.

As Ralph Kieft explains, "Because the bridge is so long and straight, all the details, repeated many times along its length, create an engaging visual effect. The cantilevered ribs under the deck, supporting the footways, transition into the vertical balustrades with their wooden rail and built-in lighting. The regular rhythm contributes to the fluid line of the ascending bridge deck, and the even distribution of spans enhances the visual effect of the flowing curve. The result is a bridge with a somewhat abstract character that seems to float above the highway."

Sustainable integration and missing link in cycling network

In this busy urban environment, attention has been paid not just to functional and aesthetic integration but to sustainability. Efforts have been made to minimize the bridge’s footprint and to enable good water management below. Most importantly, the bridge offers a safe crossing over the Leopold III-Laan and at the same time provides a previously missing link in the cycling network around.

Bridge over the Leopold III-laan (A201)
Location: Machelen
Client: De Werkvennootschap (Flemish Government)
Architectural design: ZJA Architects & Engineers as part of MoVeR0 consultancy (which includes Sweco Belgium, Arcadis, ZJA, Frank van Hulle, Cluster, and Mint)
Structural study: THV MoVeRo (Sweco and Arcadis)
Construction: Victor Buyck Steel Construction NV (steel structure), Stadsbader (concrete works)
Official opening: October 4, 2024

Project

Bicycle bridge, crossing the A201, Machelen

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