The new slow traffic bridge in Oirschot, a historical town in the south of The Netherlands, has opened. Conceived by West 8, the elegant and simple truss is ground-breaking in its use of wood as a primary material to span the 40 meter clearing accross the Wilhelmina Canal.

The ramps with their bright red steel railings offer comfortable access for pedestrians and cyclists and create alternating views over the canal, culminating in a beautiful sightline towards Oirschot’s historical St Peters Church.

Connecting visitors directly to the town square and matching the character of the surrounding woodland, the bridge is transparent, compact in form, and uses Azobé wood to traverse the canal.

The bridge is a pinnacle landmark for the Green Corridor, a 13 km long recreational route through a National Landscape which links the city of Eindhoven with the historical centre of Oirschot.

Client:
Municipality of Oirschot

Bridge Design and Landscape Design:
West 8

Contractor Team:
Ballast Nedam
wUrck architectuur stedenbouw landschap
Houthandel Wijma Kampen
Staalbouw Nauta Heeg
Ingenieursbureau Wagemaker
Lekstroom Transport