Eiffage wins contract for new Merwede bridge in the Netherlands

Contract awarded as part of the A27 Houten - Hooipolder project

Eiffage, through Iemants (entity of Smulders, Belgian subsidiary of Eiffage Metal), has won the contract for the construction of an arch structure and a movable structure intended for the new West Merwede bridge in the Netherlands.

The contract was awarded by ALSEEN, to the consortium bringing together construction companies Ballast Nedam and Fluor, on behalf of Rijkswaterstaat, the executive agency of the Dutch Ministry responsible for infrastructure and water management.

The current Merwede bridge is located near Gorinchem on highway A27, one of the country's main north-south axes. The modernization project between the town of Houten and the Hooipolder junction includes the replacement of the bridge crossing the Merwede river.

Two steel structures representing more than 8,000 tonnes

The contract covers the construction of the new West bridge, with a steel arch span of 258 meters long as well as a movable section of 53 meters. Iemants is responsible for engineering, manufacturing, delivery, assembly and installation of the two structures.

The main arch section represents approximately 7,400 tonnes of steel and the movable section approximately 840 tonnes. These elements will be manufactured in the Eiffage group's plants in Arendonk, Balen, and Hoboken or Vlissingen.

Manufacturing began in June 2026, completion expected in 2030

The elements, assembled on site near the Gorinchem bridge, began their manufacturing in June 2026. Completion of the work is expected in 2030.

This contract is part of Eiffage Metal's activities, which achieved a turnover of 1.7 billion euros in 2025 and has 19 production sites and assembly workshops in Europe.