GRP step gratings for the renovated Theunis Bridge in Deurne (Flemish Waterway)
The customer
On behalf of the Flemish Waterway, the Gabriel Theunis Bridge over the Albert Canal is being relocated and renewed.
Purpose
The two current bridges will be replaced by three new bridges. Two bridges for car, bicycle and pedestrian traffic and one bridge for the streetcar.
CGK is responsible for the production and installation ( CGK Maritime department) of the fiberglass reinforced plastic step grids next to the streetcar tracks. Among other things, these serve as safety, allowing passengers to get off easily in the event of a breakdown, for example. Under the gratings lies the electricity supply, data cabling, ...
Problem-solution
The project is unique of its kind, to say the least.
CGK is installing 2 strips of 174 meters of bridge deck gratings each, and because of the bridge's special architectural design, no two gratings are alike. The dimensions vary between 2.7 m and 0.5 m. In total, we provide 600 m² of bridge deck in glass fiber reinforced plastic (GRP). The deck is finished with quartz to prevent slipperiness from rainfall.
On one side, the step gratings support on the concrete of the bridge, on the other side we provide support feet in plastic. These are attached to rubber base plates that serve as vibration absorbers.
