Fort, vesting en -onderdelen, Werk aan de Groeneweg Houten

English translation

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Description

Cluster 62. Concrete bridge.

NEW HOLLAND WATERLINE

Introduction

CONCRETE BRIDGE from 1938, as part of civil and/or military traffic infrastructure works belonging to the linear and access defence with trench systems, (group) shelters and the like. An earlier wooden bridge over the watercourse parallel to the Lek alongside the Achterdijk was replaced in 1938 by this simple concrete bridge. The bridge enabled traffic along the Groeneweg to the (to be built) group shelters and casemates to the east of it, without this being observable from a distance. The raising or removal/destruction of bridges has since antiquity been a proven means of keeping intruders out. Not only did this hinder or delay passage or crossing over a watercourse, a dry or wet ditch or a terrain depression, but an attacker also had to provide their own means to overcome the barrier if necessary. Wooden bridges were relatively quick to destroy, if necessary by setting them on fire. Stone and concrete bridges required a larger and more time-consuming intervention, although an explosive charge could sometimes quickly achieve the desired effect. With the advent of iron bridges - widely applied in many different variants in the course of the 19th century - the second possibility remained, but the first disappeared. Blowing up bridges was capital destruction and only happened in extreme necessity. One way in which iron bridges could be closed was by removing or making (small) parts of them inaccessible. The bridge, which has recently been given a new cement render layer, continues to serve a civil function to this day.

Description

CONCRETE BRIDGE, constructed in 1938 at the northern end of the Groeneweg over the watercourse alongside the Achterdijk and executed as a (reinforced) concrete slab bridge. The flat bridge, built at road level, is approximately 3 m long and approximately 4 m wide. On both solid concrete balustrades, approximately 50 cm high and supported by buttresses, the year 1938 is applied in relief on the outer sides.

Valuation

The CONCRETE BRIDGE in the Works at the Groeneweg is of general importance because of:

* Cultural historical values as part of the New Holland Waterline as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and initially constructed from 1815 by him, Jan Blanken and Major-Engineer Willem Offerhaus and subsequently reinforced and improved by others for approximately 125 years.

* Architectural historical values in particular as an expression of military-strategic engineering, which is based on and arose as a consequence of: a. the system of inundation and access defence (20th century), b. the competition with increasingly powerful offensive means (20th century), c. the system of 'living' field fortification in depth (20th century).

This is a component from 1938, namely an expression related to military-strategic engineering of historical water construction, namely a permanent bridge for civil and military purposes.

* Ensemble value and situational values as part of the New Holland Waterline. Also because of the functional and physical connection with the other components of the complex.

* The component is representative (characteristic) because it is a good example of the application of this type of bridge in a combined military and civil situation.

* The component is reasonably well preserved because it has remained essentially unchanged and remains in use.