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A light and elegant traffic portal
For the reconstruction of the Poort Neerbosch intersection, the municipality of Nijmegen commissioned a striking design for the new traffic control installation (VRI). The portal consists of four slender, backward-sloping pylons 12 meters high, strategically placed in the axes of the intersection. Suspended between them, by means of guy cables, is a square frame of box sections (400 × 400 mm) to which both traffic lights and signage are attached. Functional lighting is subtly integrated via tension cables above the open, clear intersection.
Large span, minimal disruption
The pylons are hinged and held in place by stay cables anchored in the ground. This creates an impressive free span of 41 × 41 meters, while keeping the structure exceptionally slender. All cabling is routed entirely internally, contributing to the sleek and calm-looking design.
Duplex preservation system as key to longevity
The entire steel structure is hot-dip galvanized and coated with a three-layer coating: a duplex system that ensures a greatly extended service life and minimum maintenance requirements. This is essential at an intersection where 70,000 vehicles pass every day and closure for maintenance is hardly acceptable. The choice of galvanized steel also allowed the use of relatively thin-walled box sections without sacrificing strength or durability.
Precision work down to the smallest details
The seemingly simple design required complex engineering. For transport and galvanizability, all parts were divided into smaller segments, connected with carefully designed blind bolted joints. These details, too, were worked out with optimal zinc flow and long-term corrosion protection in mind. Technical provisions for the traffic lights are fully integrated into the profiles-demonstrable high-level engineering work.
