Bert Swart, projectmanager for N243 at the Province of North Holland: “3D concrete printing aligns with a sustainable future, where more and more circular building practices are being adopted.”
Maintenance and reconstruction of N243
The N243 runs through beautiful polder landscapes. Therefore, several bridges span the waters of that landscape. Bicycle bridges have been placed over the Beemsterringvaart, Vrouwensloot, and Jispersloot along the Schermerhornerweg (N243) to make the road safer for cyclists. These were printed with concrete in the 3D concrete printing factory of Saint-Gobain Weber. The world’s highest 3D printed structure was previously printed here. Thanks to this innovative technique, less material is needed, and less material means reduced CO2 emissions. The 3D concrete printing technique offers further benefits. Less waste was produced during the construction process because no formwork was needed. And fewer tasks and steps were required on the construction site, resulting in significant time savings. Ultimately, special bridge railings with texts paying tribute to the Beemster and Schermer will be installed. The bridges, designed by Witteveen en Bos, do not contain reinforcement and are a perfect example of the design freedom and production speed that 3D concrete printing offers.
Inauguration on Friday, September 29
Deputy Jeroen Olthof of the Province of North Holland, Hein Jan Bocxe (CEO of BAM Infra Nederland), Bas Huysmans (CEO of Weber Benelux), and Willem Messchaert (dikeologist and writer of texts) performed the official opening ceremony on September 29. In the coming period, some final works will be carried out, after which the bridges will be fully ready and will enrich the landscape in all their glory for decades to come.
