Suurhoff Bridge, Steel arch bridge in Maasvlakte, Netherlands
The Suurhoff Bridge is a steel arch bridge crossing the Hartel Canal between Maasvlakte and Europoort as part of Rotterdam's A15 motorway. The structure features two traffic lanes, bicycle paths on both sides, and rises 40 meters above the water to allow large cargo vessels to pass underneath.
The bridge was completed in 1974 as a key step in connecting the expanding harbor areas. Major maintenance took place in 2021, when a temporary connection was set up to keep traffic flowing during the work.
The bridge is named after its initiator and forms part of the modern port infrastructure that shapes the area. It connects two major harbor regions and eases daily traffic for trucks and commuters.
The bridge is accessible for both motorized and non-motorized traffic, with separate bicycle lanes for riders. You can walk or cycle across it, though be aware it is a heavily used motorway with constant vehicle movement.
The structure was built with an impressive logistical challenge: the entire steel framework had to be transported on connected pontoons through Rotterdam's waterways. This was necessary because the bridge was too large to travel by conventional land routes to the construction site.
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