Mammoet Completes Second Major Bridge Replacement at Amsterdam Central Station

Mammoet has successfully completed the second major bridge replacement at Amsterdam Centraal Station, following the successful installation of the first bridge in 2025. The replacement is part of the High-Frequency Rail Transport (PHS) Program, led by ProRail, under which five bridges at the station are being upgraded. The project includes track optimization, infrastructure modifications, and civil works within the station, enabling increased train capacity and improved operational efficiency in the future.

Working alongside construction company Dura Vermeer, Mammoet managed the load-out, transportation, and installation of three steel bridge deck sections manufactured by Hollandia Infra. The bridge comprises two outer sections, each measuring 28.5 m and weighing 275 tonnes, and a central section measuring 21 m and weighing 175 tonnes.

Given the station's location in the heart of the Dutch capital, transporting the bridge sections to the site presented significant engineering and logistical challenges. To minimize disruption in the busy city center and allow the station to remain operational during the works, Mammoet transported the bridge sections by water instead of road.

Each section was delivered to the Oostertoegang side of the station on a flat-top barge. The barge was then partially submerged, enabling it to pass beneath a low pedestrian bridge before reaching the installation area. Once in position, the bridge sections were rotated 90 degrees using Mammoet's Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) before being lifted into place with specialized hydraulic lifting equipment. Unlike the first bridge replacement, where Mammoet's Mega Jack 300 system was used for the final jacking operation, a different lifting approach was adopted for the second bridge due to the more confined working space. Leo de Vette, Project Manager at Mammoet, explained: "Previously, we used our Mega Jack 300 system and SPMTs to lift and rotate all deck sections on the deck of the barge before driving them into position. This time, however, we were working between two bridges, so we had to account for the decks and columns of the existing bridges, as well as the new bridge installed last year. For this reason, we first maneuvered and rotated the new sections beneath these bridges before jacking them up using a four-point lifting system assembled on the quayside."

The four-point lifting system consists of four large hydraulic cylinders that extend simultaneously. Mounted on tracks, the cylinders can be repositioned to enable precise lifting and controlled movement of heavy loads Installation of the central bridge section required an additional sequence of operations. Since the supporting pile had to be constructed after the span was roughly positioned, the final section was first floated into place at a right angle to the installation direction. It was then rotated 90 degrees, lifted, and temporarily placed on consoles attached to the two already-installed bridge sections. Once the central support column had been constructed, Mammoet returned to lower the bridge section onto its permanent support. Each bridge section took approximately one week to install. The successful completion of the second bridge marks another significant milestone in the modernization of Amsterdam Centraal Station, with three more bridge replacements scheduled as part of the ongoing PHS Program.