Due to the expected heat, local authorities and Rijkswaterstaat are taking measures to prevent traffic problems due to non-functioning bridges. The heat can cause the bridge deck to expand, so that bridges may no longer be able to open or close.
Rijkswaterstaat has installed automatic cooling systems at some crucial points, such as the bridges on the Afsluitdijk. Cooling takes place there with a system of pipes. The systems switch on when it is detected that the bridge deck is expanding.
“For bridges that are still being monitored manually, it was not necessary to cool extra on Monday,” said a spokesperson for Rijkswaterstaat. On Tuesday, when higher temperatures are expected, employees will again be ready to intervene if necessary.