Rijkswaterstaat may start cooling the Merwedebrug on the A27 near Werkendam from Thursday afternoon. The water must prevent damage to the structures due to the heat. Cooling can cause nuisance for traffic on the road and on the water, Rijkswaterstaat said.
The cooling is to prevent steel bridge parts from expanding due to the high temperatures. If the bridge sections expand, the bridges can no longer open or close. “We keep a close eye on the temperatures and, if necessary, we immediately start cooling the bridge,” says a spokeswoman for Rijkswaterstaat.
Rijkswaterstaat uses a fire extinguisher for cooling. If the cooling does not help enough, the service will take other measures.
Also in July 2019, the Merwedebrug near Werkendam was kept cool for several days with water.