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Theemswegtracé, Rotterdam

The Calandbrug is a steel lift bridge dating from 1969 that is used for train, road and slow traffic in the Rotterdam port area. As a railway bridge, it is also the connecting link in the Havenspoorlijn, part of the Betuweroute. For maritime shipping, the lift bridge forms the entrance to the Brittanniëhaven.

In 2020, the Calandbrug will be at the end of its technical lifespan and will require extensive renovation. At the same time, due to the expected growth in rail transport and also in maritime traffic to and from the Brittanniëhaven, capacity bottlenecks for rail traffic are expected from the same period.

As a solution, the Havenspoorlijn, the first part of the Betuweroute, will be diverted in the Rotterdam port area. The new route, the Theemswegtracé, will be realised around 2020 and is a solution to the problems at the Calandbrug near Rozenbrug. In order to achieve this, the current infrastructure needs to be redirected to create space for the construction of the new Theemsweg and the future railway line. In this diversion, an available space has been allocated in the pipeline strip on the northern side of the Theemsweg. In order to get to the northern pipeline strip, several Microtunnelings have to be carried out.

At the moment, Kouwenberg Infra is completing the third and final Microtunneling for 10 and 25 kV pipelines. The third drilling has also been successfully completed and the site is now neatly completed. The drilling was carried out in a very small entry and exit pit because of the cables and pipes present. All three drilling were drilled using vitrified clay pipes Ø 800 mm.