Merksem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Last week’s bridge collapse incident at Oosterweel works in Merksem was the result of human mistakes according to the client Lantis. The Lantis client made the public report about the incident. Last Wednesday the bridge section fell to rest on the cycle path. The necessary safety precautions have been implemented.
Client Lantis has determined that a human mistake triggered the bridge layer collapse during the Oosterweel works in Merksem. The bridge section collapsed onto the cycle track last Wednesday but no cyclists found themselves in the area. Medical staff treated the injured worker who left the hospital on the day of their visit. The safety measures deployed by Lantis aim to stop this type of incident from happening again.
A structural failure took place at Groenendaallaan Street in Merksem when bridge wreckage struck the nearby cycling route.
An approved work plan was not followed by workers which resulted in the structural failure getting revealed through detailed investigations. According to Lantis the_workers deviated from their approved procedure and he demonstrated deep remorse for this incident._ The installation of new safety protocols now requires workers to pause frequently for safety checks and performs additional inspections for rigorous procedural compliance.
There are measures to prevent human error, such as extra checks and stop times on the construction site. Everyone then stops work for a while to see if they are working completely according to plan. There will also be more and more extensive inspections and campaigns on safety,
says Laure Stuyck of Lantis.
What is the Oosterweel project and why is it significant?
The Oosterweel project functions as Antwerp’s primary infrastructure project, which targets ring road completion and traffic congestion reduction. The €4.4 billion Oosterweel project includes essential improvements such as highway upgrades and tunnels to build bridges that will boost mobility while improving air quality.
Under Lantis project management, the construction started its operations in 2018, while finishing operations are planned for 2030. The collapsed bridge layer at Merksem operated as an important section of the Scheldt Left Bank connection within the development.
Antwerp‘s position as Europe’s second biggest port necessitates efficient road systems to accommodate its yearly cargo operations, exceeding 240 million metric tons. The Oosterweel works directly to reduce the daily traffic of 100,000 vehicles away from residential zones, which leads to reduced air pollution by 30%. The project continues to experience holdups and environmental complaint-based disputes.
Construction activities proceeded safely from their commencement until this incident became the first significant safety event. Before this collapse Lantis reported minor accidents throughout their operation of 1,500 workers on-site. Security protocols at large infrastructure initiatives require stronger enforcement based on the investigation results.
