Heerlen mine rail bridges

recreational cycling route

In the most southern part of the Netherlands, the province of Limburg, several parties are involved in creating a 26 km long recreational cycling route connecting nature and tourist attractions. Part of this proposed Leisure Lane is on the embankment of a former mine rail track. We were asked to design two bridges for this section of the cycling route.

historical references

The rich mining history of the area provided plenty of inspiration for the bridge designs. The subsurface soil layers, for instance, are referenced in the brick work of the bridge abutments. In compliance with the architecture of the former Emma Mine, the bridge design itself combines functionality with intricate detailing. Brass miner tags have been incorporated into the bridge’s wearing surface. We designed single span bridges with a load bearing steel beam structure with vertical stiffeners, that refer to the archetypical railway bridges from back in the days.

playful perforations

Near the railing ends, the steel has been fitted with perforations in the shape of the brass miner tags. Not only does this create a playful and more transparant appearance, it’s also another subtle way of incorporating the mining history of the area into the bridge design.