Renovation of Rotterdam's Van Brienenoord Bridge almost three times more expensive: possibly 2 billion euros

Environmental manager Jörgen van der Meer told the newspaper that 'this is simply what the work costs at current prices'.

The busiest bridge in the Netherlands has been in need of a major overhaul for some time now. Approximately 230,000 vehicles drive over the bridge on the A16 over the Nieuwe Maas every day. Approximately 120,000 ships pass by each year and the bridge opens a hundred times for shipping.

The renovation was actually supposed to start next year. But only one party reported in the tender, and the outcome was not as desired. There are too many risks in the work plan and the renovation is too expensive. That is why a new tender was prepared.

Jörgen van der Meer tells De Telegraaf that comparing the costs with the first tender is not possible. "Everything has simply become much more expensive, you cannot compare those times and it is a risky project."

The bridge, whose first arch dates from 1965, is at the end of its life and is in urgent need of major maintenance and replacement. In the plans, the oldest arch section will be replaced by a new arch. The other bridge section, which was added in 1989, will be renovated.