Deinze (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A truck collided with a pillar of the Van Crombrugghe Bridge in Deinze, forcing authorities to close the structure for safety assessments and repairs.
One of the pillars of the bridge was damaged this afternoon when a truck driver struck it. The impact on stability won’t be evident until Monday at the latest, when the bridge will remain closed.
A truck driver struck one of the pillars after misjudging the bridge’s height.
“Fortunately, there was only material damage,” responded
mayor Rutger De Rue (CD&V).
“The bridge was immediately closed and the fire department checked its stability. It is not yet clear when the bridge can be reopened. It will become clear on Monday whether the bridge can be repaired or whether it will remain closed for longer.”
The Van Crombrugghebrug is a bowstring bridge that spans the Leie in the Sint-Martens-Leerne sub-municipality.
“Now that the Baarlebrug has been demolished in Drongen, the bridge is used more. That can cause a lot of traffic disruption,” the mayor adds.
Leerne and Sint-Martens-Latem are connected by the bridge in Deinze, Belgium.
The Leernsesteenweg, which runs along the Stadionlaan to the N43, is the ideal route for cars. The Astene-Sas connection is the best option for cyclists, otherwise they can cross the Leie via boat.
How are authorities managing safety and investigation after this bridge incident?
In order to protect public safety, the bridge has been closed to all traffic while structural engineers inspect the damage. In order to reduce interruption and guarantee road user safety, traffic is being diverted.
Authorities have started a comprehensive documentation procedure that includes obtaining police records, driver and vehicle information, and images as proof. The safety assessment and any legal or insurance procedures are supported by this data.
To assess the degree of damage, any hazards, and the necessity of reinforcement or repairs, professional engineers do thorough examinations of the bridge pillar and surrounding structure. Decisions regarding the duration of the closure and the extent of the required work are guided by this assessment.
