The Eekmolen Bridge, near the center of Meppel, is partly closed. The bridge, which is located next to the De Weert mill, is suffering from concrete rot.
Following a recent inspection, it was recommended to close part of the bridge because the condition has deteriorated faster than expected. Concrete rot was already discovered two years ago.
The municipality of Meppel is trying to get the bridge “fully operational” again as quickly as possible. Research is needed for this, the municipality emphasizes. In any case, the bridge will be completely replaced in 2025.
The Eekmolen Bridge is a concrete bridge that was built between 1947 and 1950. In the late 1960s it turned out that the bridge was too narrow for the increasing traffic and therefore the bridge was widened to its current size. The new part was then built against the old bridge.
It is not the first bridge on a busy road to be replaced in Meppel. In 2020 there was a major operation lasting about eight months to replace the Ceintuurbaanbrug (ring road along the city). At the end of last year and the beginning of this year, a bridge over the Wold Aa, on the edge of the center, was replaced in about seven months.
Then there is also the Boaz Bridge. The top of this bicycle bridge over the canal in the center of the city collapsed at the beginning of this year due to wood rot. The bridge has since been closed and the bridge deck removed. This bridge is expected to be replaced next year.