Bascule Bridges Nieuwe Sluis Terneuzen

Two gigantic, identical bascule bridges are part of the project Nieuwe Sluis Terneuzen. The lock complex connects the Western Scheldt with the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal. As part of a large integrated design team, Iv was responsible for the design of the bascule bridges and lock gates. The two bridges span the Nieuwe Sluis at the end.

There are two bridges to always allow road traffic to pass over the lock. Both bascule bridges are almost identical and each consists of a fully welded, steel movable part.

A particular challenge in the design of the bascule bridges is that in the event of an approaching storm, which may be accompanied by a storm surge, they are opened and locked in the open position to prevent the bridges from suffering severe damage from the storm surge. A storm surge is expected to exert much higher loads on the bridge than wind loads in the open position. Normally, movable bridges are kept closed during an approaching storm. However, the bascule bridges over the Nieuwe Sluis are resistant to these wind loads.

The Nieuwe Sluis is comparable in size to the locks in IJmuiden, Antwerp, and Panama. The lock gates and bascule bridges are designed to last 100 years. Through the Nieuwe Sluis, larger sea-going vessels can navigate the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal to the port of Ghent. The realisation of the Nieuwe Sluis represents a significant boost for shipping in the region. It ensures that both the port of Terneuzen and the port of Ghent become more attractive for international trade, which has a positive impact on the local economy.