On Wednesday, 14 May 2025, the Stalhille Bridge in Jabbeke (Belgium) suffered a severe malfunction when a 4.5-ton counterweight detached, causing significant damage to the bridge. This incident led to the full closure of the bridge for users and a blockage of shipping traffic on the Bruges-Ostend canal. The BESIX maintenance team in the Bruges region was immediately deployed to manage the situation. Within 48 hours, our team succeeded in reopening the shipping route by carefully dismantling the damaged bridge and clearing the waterway. This complex process required coordinated effort and collaboration with specialised partners such as crane company Gheysens, steel company B-Line, and diving company Deco.
Our Approach Step by Step
- 14 May 2025: The bridge was inspected, revealing the need to remove the 4.5-ton counterweights. Subcontractors immediately began producing the necessary tools.
- 15 May 2025: The counterweights were removed from the beams using specialised cranes.
- 16 May 2025: The 18-ton bridge deck was dismantled and safely removed. Simultaneously, the detached weight was retrieved from the waterway with the assistance of a dive team. The same day, shipping traffic was restored.
The bridge deck was then transported to a quay in Ostend for a thorough inspection, to determine whether repairs are feasible and what further steps are required. Thanks to the swift and efficient intervention by BESIX and our partners, this crisis was addressed quickly and professionally, with minimal disruption to shipping and local traffic. Congratulations to the team on site!
