Bridge Wierdensestraat
Type: Bridge Location: Nijverdal Client: Municipality Hellendoorn Team: Bart Reuser, Marijn Schenk, Michel Schreinemachers,Filipe Pocas, Jurriaan Hillerström, Ieda Alvarez Dogo Collaborator / associate: H+N+S Landschapsarchitecten Floor area / size: 27 mtr span Cost: Euro 800.000,00 Construction: Romein Beton Completion: September 2008
In the community of Nijverdal a segment of the Regge River has been restored to its original path. This operation was undertaken as a part of the larger combined environmental conservancy plan for the area. Working with bureau H+N+S, a landscaping proposal was developed with the bridge playing a prominent role.
The Wierdensestraat is a long road bounded along its entire length by a separated bicycle path, to which a footpath will be added. The crossing of the River Regge is visually emphasised by drawing the bicycle and foot paths closer in towards the roadway. This makes room on the both sides of the bridge for a lookout for passersby over the Regge Valley.
The lookout bays are floored with steel grates, whose open structure increases the feeling of connection with the water flowing underneath. The grating also allows more daylight to reach the areas under the bridge, stimulating plant growth and encouraging the ecological balance to remain at natural levels.
The grates and hand-railings are carried by vertical steel supports which are fastened to the concrete; these supports are flat, and taper to a narrow top from a wide bottom. This graduation positions the hand-railing on the inner side when seen in relation to the steel grates underfoot. The visual effect of the repetition of these tapered supports gives the bridge a svelte appearance, a flowing transition between the abutment and the beginning of the surface of the bridge which gives the bridge a much elongated appearance.