Antwerpen14-18_Antwerp builds bridges ENG

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Pontoon Bridge 100 years later Left bank Right bank ‘Anchored to the pier of the maritime police’ ‘Folding bridge 340 meters’ “Gangway anchored 38 meters on shore ‘ 12
Dirk Verhaegen is Staff Colonel and Military Commander of the Province of Antwerp. As the link between the military and the civilian populations, he will be responsible for coordinating the pontoon bridge in 2014. The fixed part of the bridge is about 60 meters long and consists of about 60 tons of steel. The floating section is about 270 meters long and consists of 15 to 20 pontoon boats, each driving roughly three linked pontoon elements. The total weight of the aluminum frame is approximately 200 tons - which accounts for 40 trucks of equipment. The assembling and inspecting of the bridge is carried out by 250 sappers, half of them Dutch, half Belgian. Divers will also be on guard. The fixed section of the bridge is anchored with support poles in the river bottom of the Scheldt, floating pontoons are held together using the screws of the pontoon boats. These will have to be monitored round the clock. For example, during the ‘slack’ period between high and low tide the river water almost comes to a standstill, but at its strongest it can flow at 9 kilometers per hour. This represents a tremendous force. In addition, the bridge should be able to open up regularly to let ships sail through. This is already monitored at Flushing, close to the estuary of the River Scheldt. “Constructing such a bridge will not be easy, not least because the River Scheldt in Antwerp is about 370 m wide and the tidal currents are at times very strong. The sappers of the 11th Engineer Battalion from Burcht will take care of the fixed section of the bridge. The 101th Engineer battalion from Wezep in the Netherlands and their 105th Bridge Company from ‘s-Hertogenbosch will build the floating section. Because the entire operation won’t be easy, the bridge will be constructed for a first time, as a test, in September 2013. The whole event is like a large collection of Meccano, with pieces that do not always fit together properly. Additionally, the preparation represents a huge technical challenge. We are including a risk assessment as well, a prevention and safety plan, agreements with the port authorities, with civil and military authorities, and so on. Over thirty delegates are usually present at the meetings. But the cooperation works very well, everyone is excited. The construction of this bridge is a wonderful example of international defense cooperation at a European level, in this case between Belgium and the Netherlands and fully in line with the policy of our respective Secretaries of Defence. And it is wonderful to be able to build a ‘Bridge of Peace’ for all citizens across the River Scheldt in Antwerp in 2014!” 13
Page 1 and 2: Antwerp 1914-2014 builds bridges
Page 3 and 4: 1914-2014: Antwerp builds a bridge
Page 5 and 6: After seven days, the bridge is rea
Page 7 and 8: The slope of the entry and exit ram
Page 9 and 10: The burning oil tanks form an apoca
Page 11: Passage for ships The pontoon bridg
Page 15 and 16: 1914 The bridges built in 1584, 191
Page 17 and 18: Colophon ‘Antwerp builds bridges
Page 19 and 20: Rechteroever See you on the bridge!
Page 21 and 22: This is a publication issued by the
Page 23 and 24: Belgium before the war The 19th cen
Page 25 and 26: The clash between the European powe
Page 27 and 28: 1914 The zeppelin bombardments of A
Page 29 and 30: 1914 The advance of the German army
Page 31 and 32: Panic in the city Luggage left behi

Antwerpen14-18_Antwerp builds bridges ENG

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