Mammoet, the global leader in heavy lifting and transport, has embarked on a five-year mission to replace five bridges at Amsterdam Centraal Station, ensuring minimal disruption to the bustling rail hub. This monumental effort, part of the High-Frequency Rail Transport (PHS) Program, underscores the station’s modernization to accommodate increasing train traffic and passenger demand.
The project involves replacing four steel railway bridges and one concrete bridge on the station’s eastern side. Teaming up with Dutch engineering firm Dura Vermeer, Mammoet is tackling this intricate task with a meticulous, water-based approach to reduce city center disruptions.
Each bridge, fabricated by Hollandia, comprises three sections, with lengths of 24 to 28 meters and weights ranging from 173 to 275 tonnes. Transported via flattop barges navigating the River De Lek and the Lekkanaal, these massive components will reach the Oostertoegang area of the station. Innovative measures, including partially submerging the installation barge using copper pontoons weighted with water, are being deployed to navigate under a low footbridge near the site.
On arrival, a temporary bridge hosts a 90-ton mobile crane to remove the pontoons and replace them with Mammoet’s Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs). These SPMTs, guided by Mammoet’s Mega Jack 300 system, elevate the bridge sections to a height of four meters, enabling precise placement.
Once elevated, the SPMTs rotate each section 90 degrees before driving them off the barge and onto pre-installed support towers. Mammoet’s sequence involves installing the eastern segment first, followed by the western and central sections, with the latter positioned directly over water.
The water-based operation is a testament to Mammoet’s engineering ingenuity, as Leo de Vette, the project manager at Mammoet, explained:
“As a reliable partner, we have been involved in this project since 2021. We devised the water installation method to limit transport movements and minimize city center disruption. The confined space and interconnected operations make this a particularly complex challenge.”
Dura Vermeer’s project manager, Martin de Ruijter, echoed the sentiment:
“This renovation project will enhance station capacity and accommodate growing passenger numbers. Mammoet’s expertise has been crucial, delivering a solution that keeps the station operational and minimizes impact on commuters and the city alike.”
With one bridge set to be replaced annually through 2028, the project exemplifies precision engineering and a commitment to urban-friendly innovation.
