Crisis update: Noordkasteelbrug out of use for road traffic

The works on the western Noordkasteel Bridge, scheduled for Wednesday 19 March, will be carried out on Tuesday 18 March. 

• Cars and trucks can drive via Noordkasteel Bridge as of Tuesday 18 March at 4 p.m.

   

• Cyclists and pedestrians can continue to cross the bridge until Tuesday 18 March at 9 a.m. and again starting Tuesday 18 March at 4 p.m.

   

• Train traffic can resume as of Sunday evening 16 March. On Tuesday 18 March between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., it will be possible only if coordinated with the bridge operator.

   

• Vessels can request a bridge movement again starting Sunday evening 16 March, but not on Tuesday 18 March between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

   

As of Tuesday 18 March at 4 p.m., everything will be back to the way it was before the collision.
 

Preparations for the emergency repair of the damaged eastern Noordkasteel Bridge have begun.

Our schedule is to have this bridge back available for road and rail traffic on Monday, March 17 starting at 6 p.m.  

 

On Wednesday, March 19, there will be (previously scheduled) works on the western Noordkasteel Bridge from 9 am to 4 pm. For safety reasons, no road traffic will be allowed on the eastern bridge from 9 am to 4 pm during these works.

Starting Wednesday evening, March 19 at 4 p.m., all land traffic will be able to return to its normal way across one of the Noordkasteel bridges, including during the final repair of the east bridge.

In summary:

Cars and trucks can travel via the Noordkasteel Bridges:

- from Monday, March 17 at 6 p.m. to Wednesday, March 19 at 9 a.m. 

- from Wednesday, March 19 at 4 p.m.

Cyclists and pedestrians can use the Noordkasteel Bridges:

- until Wednesday, March 19, 9 a.m. (except for about 1 hour on Friday, March 14, because the bridge will be up)

- from Wednesday, March 19 at 4 p.m. 

We will start the repair work on the Noordkasteel bridge as soon as possible. We expect that road traffic will not be able to cross the Noordkasteel bridge until the end of March, but bicycle traffic is still possible at the moment.

Traffic between the Noorderlaan (N180) and the Scheldelaan (N101) will therefore have to be diverted in both directions: either via the Vosseschijnstraat, the Straatsburg bridge and the Siberia bridge, or via the Noorderlaan and the Tijsmans tunnel (R2).

For shipping, the situation remains unchanged.

This morning, we carried out an inspection of the bridge. We are now mapping out exactly which repairs are needed. As a result, no land traffic will be possible across the bridge except for cyclists at least today. Land traffic will also not be possible during the period of repairs.

The bridge cannot be opened for ships. Barges can pass via the side channels of the bridge.

Once we have a clear view on the repairs needed, we will update you on the duration of the impact

The island of Oosterweel can only be reached from the north (Oosterweelbrug). Traffic between the Noorderlaan (N180) and the Scheldelaan (N101) in both directions will have to be diverted: 

• either via Vosseschijnstraat, Strasbourg Bridge and Siberia Bridge
• or via Noorderlaan and the Tijsmanstunnel (R2).

For ships, the middle channel of Noordkasteelbrug will be out of service, the side channels will remain available for barge traffic. 

After a thorough inspection on Wednesday morning, there will be a decision as to whether the bridge will be open to traffic.

We will keep you updated on this page and on our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram).