Baanhoekbrug, Steel truss railway bridge between Dordrecht and Sliedrecht, Netherlands.
The Baanhoekbrug is a steel truss railway bridge spanning 110 meters across the Beneden Merwede river, connecting the municipalities of Dordrecht and Sliedrecht in South Holland with its robust construction combining steel and concrete materials.
Originally constructed between 1880 and 1885 by the Maatschappij tot Exploitatie van Staatsspoorwegen, the bridge suffered extensive damage during World War II when it was destroyed twice and subsequently rebuilt with both original and new materials by 1947.
The bridge serves as an integral part of the MerwedeLingelijn railway line and represents Dutch engineering heritage from the late 19th century, demonstrating the evolution of railway infrastructure technology in the Netherlands over more than a century.
Operated by ProRail with remote control from Dordrecht traffic post, the bridge features a movable bascule section that opens for ship traffic, maintaining a closed clearance height of approximately 11.58 meters for river navigation.
The bridge underwent a major renovation in 1978-1983 that replaced its movable section with a modern bascule bridge design while adding electrification to the railway and installing a dedicated bicycle path alongside the structure.
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