Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On May 7, 2025, work began on installing the 280-ton southern half of Ghent’s new Meulestede bridge. Geert Weymeis (De Vlaamse Waterweg) emphasised safety; completion expected end-2025.
As VRT News reported, the Meulestede bridge in Ghent, which has been around for over 65 years, is currently undergoing a significant transformation. As of May 7, 2025, around 5 a.m., work commenced on the installation of the southern half of the bridge.
They mentioned that this marks a crucial step toward the completion of the entire bridge, which is being constructed in 2 halves. The new bridge, similar to the old one, is designed to be movable, likely a bascule bridge, and is essential for connecting the Meulestede neighbourhood while ensuring that shipping traffic can pass through the canal.
Why is the Meulestede bridge in Ghent closed for 10 days?
Installing the southern part of the Meulestede bridge will take about 10 days. They’re putting the bridge together in 3 big pieces. A giant crane on a floating platform is lifting and fixing every piece. Every section of the bridge is approximately 280 tons, and the section which facilitates it opening and closing weighs an additional 310 tons.
Because it’s so big and needs to be precise, the bridge is closed to all traffic, including cars, bikes, and people. Geert Weymeis, from De Vlaamse Waterweg, said safety and planning are very important. Once the southern half is in place, the Meulestede bridge will be ready to use again and should last for many years.
The local authorities and De Vlaamse Waterweg are asking people to stay away from the area as much as they can for the next few days. They’ve set up different routes to send cars, bikes, and people around the construction, but spokesperson Geert Weymeis says it’s important to keep traffic down near the bridge.
He mentioned that the idea is to make sure the small streets in the neighbourhood are easy for people who live there to use and to make the area safer during this construction. The work involves heavy equipment, big cranes, and floating platforms on the canal, so the workers need a clear space to get the job done.
The bridge construction is set to go on until May 16, 2025, according to officials. The team hopes everything will go well and stay on schedule. Once this part is done, the bridge will be built, but they’ll still need to do some final work. The whole Meulestede bridge is expected to be finished by the end of 2025. The old bridge has been demolished, and the first phase of its replacement was completed in early 2024.
