“A milestone,” calls project leader Paul Wijnen the placement of the new toll bridge in the center of Breda. The bridge that was placed early on Tuesday morning next to Café De Botanist is the final piece of a project that has to reconnect the harbor with the canals.
On the quay, curious people from Bredaners in the early spring sun are watching how an 8 -meter -long steel bridge of 13,000 kilos with a crane is placed over a construction site. The first part of the extension of Stad River was thus completed the new Mark.
This river once ran like Singel along the city gates of the Baronie city, but was partly filled in in the sixties. Now the city river has to reconnect the port reopened in 2007 with the canals of Breda, so that residents and tourists can once again sail around the city center.
“It is a wonderful thing for the municipality of Breda and its inhabitants,” says project leader Paul Wijnen. “We will soon have a navigable river, right through the city.
“A historic moment”, says alderman Eddie Förster of urban development. “This is going to be a mega quality impulse for this area and for Breda.” Bicycle and hiking trails will be located to and from the city center along the water, where apartments and restaurants with terraces are built. Furthermore, the Seelig site, the former barracks on Fellenoordstraat, will be transformed into a large city park with hospitality.
There will also be more green in the city center. To develop new nature in this project, the municipality of Breda even received a European subsidy. Soon, trees and plants will grow from the quay walls that must contribute to reducing heat stress. The new Mark also ensures that more water can be collected and drained. There will be a retention area for abundant water at the new-build district ‘t Zoet, on the former site of the CSM-Suikerfabriek. In this reception pond, as much water can soon be collected as now flows into the canals around Breda.
Incidentally, it will take a while before Bredanaars and visitors to the city can use the bridge. Some brickwork still needs to be completed, handrails still have to be confirmed and the temporary bridge must be removed. The bridge will be festively opened in June, says Alderman Förster: “Then everyone can experience this new part of Breda.”