“Loenerslootsebrug is undergoing maintenance” could be what you heard, but it’s much more than that. The Loenerslootsebrug is a vital crossing point with a fascinating story. This steel arch bridge spans the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal and the Utrecht-Amsterdam railway line. It is part of the Provincial Road 201.
Originally, in 1892, the Merwede Canal’s opening disrupted the connection between Loenersloot and Vreeland. A pivot bridge appeared as an extension of the Binnenweg in Loenersloot. It connected to the Kerklaan. But the Merwede Canal needed expanding to become the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal. This expansion continued after World War II.
In 1937, a new steel arch bridge appeared. It guided traffic over what is now the N201. This connected Loenersloot, Kerklaan, and Vreeland. These are the core areas of Stichtse Vecht municipality. The old pivot bridge was blown up by the Dutch military.
Rijkswaterstaat renovated the Loenerslootsebrug in 2013. They adapted it to modern requirements. They also increased its clearance height. The bridge received wider lanes. It gained a broad bicycle path for two directions on the south side. This replaced bicycle paths on both sides.
The bicycle path no longer runs along the west side of the N201. Cyclists now use a tunnel under the N201, via the Binnenweg. This leads to the south side where the ramp to the bicycle path begins. Here, between the canal and railway line, is a staircase. It has a bicycle channel. Pedestrians and cyclists can use it to reach the Westelijke Kanaaldijk from the bridge. From there, they can continue towards Driemond or Breukelen.
Originally, the second bridge had staircases on both sides. The northern staircase provided access to Vreeland Station until 1944. Later, the southern staircase disappeared. Syntus Utrecht bus lines 120 and 121 cross the Loenerslootsebrug. The neighborhood bus 522 runs under the bridge. Trains also pass under it towards Abcoude and Breukelen.
The Loenerslootsebrug is a fixed arch bridge. It sits high enough above the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal. This allows inland vessels to pass. The pillars on the east side are slightly within the canal width. This creates a slight narrowing in the canal at this point. The N201 has two lanes. The current bridge has a bicycle path on the south side for two directions. The old bridge had a bicycle path on each side.
The Amsterdam-Rhine Canal is approximately 100 meters wide. The Loenerslootsebrug spans the West and Oostkanaaldijk roads. On the west side, it also crosses the Amsterdam – Elten railway line. This is also known as the Rhijnspoorweg. This results in a total span of about 190 meters for the Loenerslootsebrug.
The first Loenerslootsebrug opened around 1936. It crossed the existing canal, previously named the Merwede Canal. The new waterway quickly became a success. The old sailing route over the Amstel was longer. Around 1910, the Merwede Canal was overloaded. The first widening to 80 meters followed in the 1930s. This coincided with the construction of large arch bridges. These replaced the old, obstructive bank connections.
In the weekend of June 28 and 29, 2014, the old Loenerslootsebrug was replaced. The arch section of the bridge was floated out and removed via the canal. Simultaneously, the new arch was transported from Nigtevecht. It had been assembled there. It was floated to Loenersloot and placed. A more complex method was needed for the railway section of the bridge. It was assembled next to the A2 access road. Then, it was driven over the N201 to its location. All light poles, traffic lights, and signs had to be removed. This was between the bridge and the connection to the A2. So, remember the Loenerslootsebrug is more than just a crossing. It’s a testament to adapting and improving infrastructure.