Nijmegen gets longest concrete 3D-Printed pedestrian bridge in the world

Rijkswaterstaat says it wants to gain experience with the possibilities that 3D printing offers for sustainable and circular projects. Together with designer Michiel van der Kley, a pedestrian bridge has been developed, which will be placed in Nijmegen in the summer of 2019.

Rijkswaterstaat is responsible for the construction of the bridge. The research into the structural safety of the 3D-printed bridge is being carried out at Eindhoven University of Technology. The construction of the bridge will start on Monday 25 March 2019.

3D printing with concrete offers environmental benefits: for example, less material is needed, because the concrete printer only uses concrete where it is needed. In addition, it is more efficient because the design, the mold, can be reused for other new bridges with just a few small adjustments.

The pedestrian bridge has a span of 28.5 m and a width of 3.6 m and will be printed in parts. These parts are then assembled on location. The bridge will replace an outdated wooden bridge in the Nijmegen Geologists Strip in the Zwanenveld district of the Dukenburg district. The 3D-printed bridge is scheduled to be installed in the summer of 2019.

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