Hedel Bridge

About

Hedel Bridge is a tied-arch bridge over the Meuse dating from 1937 near Hedel, Gelderland. The bridge was built for the Oude Rijksweg, a former part of the A2 motorway that connected 's-Hertogenbosch to Utrecht.

Hedel Bridge crosses the Meuse. In the center, it is a 115 m long and 12.00 m high tied-arch bridge. North and south of this are smaller girder bridge sections. These are not meant for passing ships, but for giving way to the Meuse water when the river rises. In 1940-1941 and 1946-1947 the bridge was repaired according to the original plans.

The bridge deck was originally made for a four-lane motorway. It is therefore much wider than required for the current use of the bridge, which is as a two-lane regional road. Therefore, the bridge now has a relatively wide bike path on both sides, separated from the other traffic by very solid traffic barriers.

The ferry and plans for a pontoon bridge

In the mid-nineteenth century, the national road between Utrecht and 's-Hertogenbosch had three ferries. One over the Lek at Culemborg, one over the Waal near Zaltbommel, and the ferry over the Meuse at Hedel. These three were maintained by the government.

In 1851 a plan to replace the ferry with a pontoon bridge came up. In the following years, the municipality of -s-Hertogenbosch and others began to press for construction. In 1857 the 's-Hertogenbosch decided to offer up to 7000 guilders if the government would construct it. Later the province followed by offering 4,666 guilders. In October 1859 the government decided to build the pontoon bridge. Near Hedel the Meuse would be tightened to 150 m. This would make the span of the bridge much shorter, but would also make it easier to keep the Meuse up to depth before Fort Crèvecoeur, where Crèvecoeur Lock was under construction to make the Dieze more navigable.

In order to shorten the bridge, the Meuse was tightened at Hedel. Two wooden bridgeheads stuck into the Meuse. Here the pontoon bridge would be connected thus that it could rise and fall with the level of the water. There would be 20 pontoons for the bridge. Some of them probably serving as reserve. A new ferry harbor was constructed to store the boats. The pontoons were built by the shipyard of P. and C. Boele. The pontoon bridge was opened for the public on 23 September 1861. For passage, a horse drawn cart paid 15 cents, a wagon paid 30 cents.

The pontoon bridge had a history of its own. In almost every winter it had to be stored in the harbor due to floating ice. This happened for the first time in January 1862. At such times a boat replaced the pontoon bridge. A high level of the Meuse could also lead to storing the pontoon bridge. There were also almost regular accidents. In November 1861 one of the pontoons was damaged by a steam powered vessel of the Rotterdam-Venlo shipping line. In June 1862 some of the pontoons of the bridge sank due to strong currents. In 1875 the pontoon bridge was caught by the floating ice, with parts ending up in Bokhoven and Ammerzoden.

In 1870 Hedel Railway Bridge was built for the Utrecht–Boxtel railway. It was close to the pontoon bridge, which was moved a bit and underwent some changes. By 7 July the pontoon bridge had been dismantled to be moved. On 19 July 1870 the Franco-Prussian War erupted. It led to frantic attempts to get the new railway bridge in working order, and to sending army pontoon bridges to the area.

In about 1890 the pontoon bridge was renewed. In 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891 and 1892 three new pontoons were ordered. This brings the total number of new pontoons to 18. Most of these were built by the shipyard RIJSM in Kampen. In 1899 the pontoon bridge was reclassified from ferry to bridge. This meant that it would become toll free in 1900.

In 1904 the Bergse Maas was opened, and the level of the Meuse near Hedel dropped significantly. As a consequence, the pontoon bridge could no longer reach the bridgeheads at all times. Therefore, Rijkswaterstaat made two new 3 m lower bridgeheads 18 m below stream. These became the normal place of the pontoon bridge. The old bridgeheads would be used if the level of the Meuse became very high. After the new river settled, permanent new bridgeheads were made. The double access ramps are visible on the photo of the construction of Hedel Bridge. In 1906 four iron pontoons were ordered. In the following decades the remaining wooden pontoons were gradually replaced by iron ones. In 1931 the wooden pontoons No. 10 and 11 were sold.

In 1928 the pontoon bridge got two electric engines which drove winches. This drastically reduced the time it took to open the bridge for shipping. After Hedel Bridge was opened, the parts of the pontoon bridge were auctioned in November 1938.

In the mid-nineteenth century, the national road between Utrecht and 's-Hertogenbosch had three ferries. One over the Lek at Culemborg, one over the Waal near Zaltbommel, and the ferry over the Meuse at Hedel. These three were maintained by the government.

In 1851 a plan to replace the ferry with a pontoon bridge came up. In the following years, the municipality of -s-Hertogenbosch and others began to press for construction. In 1857 the 's-Hertogenbosch decided to offer up to 7000 guilders if the government would construct it. Later the province followed by offering 4,666 guilders. In October 1859 the government decided to build the pontoon bridge. Near Hedel the Meuse would be tightened to 150 m. This would make the span of the bridge much shorter, but would also make it easier to keep the Meuse up to depth before Fort Crèvecoeur, where Crèvecoeur Lock was under construction to make the Dieze more navigable.

In order to shorten the bridge, the Meuse was tightened at Hedel. Two wooden bridgeheads stuck into the Meuse. Here the pontoon bridge would be connected thus that it could rise and fall with the level of the water. There would be 20 pontoons for the bridge. Some of them probably serving as reserve. A new ferry harbor was constructed to store the boats. The pontoons were built by the shipyard of P. and C. Boele. The pontoon bridge was opened for the public on 23 September 1861. For passage, a horse drawn cart paid 15 cents, a wagon paid 30 cents.

The pontoon bridge had a history of its own. In almost every winter it had to be stored in the harbor due to floating ice. This happened for the first time in January 1862. At such times a boat replaced the pontoon bridge. A high level of the Meuse could also lead to storing the pontoon bridge. There were also almost regular accidents. In November 1861 one of the pontoons was damaged by a steam powered vessel of the Rotterdam-Venlo shipping line. In June 1862 some of the pontoons of the bridge sank due to strong currents. In 1875 the pontoon bridge was caught by the floating ice, with parts ending up in Bokhoven and Ammerzoden.

In 1870 Hedel Railway Bridge was built for the Utrecht–Boxtel railway. It was close to the pontoon bridge, which was moved a bit and underwent some changes. By 7 July the pontoon bridge had been dismantled to be moved. On 19 July 1870 the Franco-Prussian War erupted. It led to frantic attempts to get the new railway bridge in working order, and to sending army pontoon bridges to the area.

In about 1890 the pontoon bridge was renewed. In 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891 and 1892 three new pontoons were ordered. This brings the total number of new pontoons to 18. Most of these were built by the shipyard RIJSM in Kampen. In 1899 the pontoon bridge was reclassified from ferry to bridge. This meant that it would become toll free in 1900.

In 1904 the Bergse Maas was opened, and the level of the Meuse near Hedel dropped significantly. As a consequence, the pontoon bridge could no longer reach the bridgeheads at all times. Therefore, Rijkswaterstaat made two new 3 m lower bridgeheads 18 m below stream. These became the normal place of the pontoon bridge. The old bridgeheads would be used if the level of the Meuse became very high. After the new river settled, permanent new bridgeheads were made. The double access ramps are visible on the photo of the construction of Hedel Bridge. In 1906 four iron pontoons were ordered. In the following decades the remaining wooden pontoons were gradually replaced by iron ones. In 1931 the wooden pontoons No. 10 and 11 were sold.

In 1928 the pontoon bridge got two electric engines which drove winches. This drastically reduced the time it took to open the bridge for shipping. After Hedel Bridge was opened, the parts of the pontoon bridge were auctioned in November 1938.