André Denys and Zoé Borluut cyclebridges to the Parkbos green zone in Ghent

As part of the development of a recreational green zone ‘Parkbos” in the suburbs of Ghent, a new cycling route has been created requiring the crossing (total 780 m) of the Ringvaart on the one hand and R4 ring road and of the motorway E40 on the other hand. The project was obtained further to a competition.

During the preliminary design, different connection possibilities with the surrounding bicycle routes were studied.

The main bridge over the Ringvaart, with a total length of 136 m, is a composite structure (steel box girder and concrete slab) supported on legs in the banks of the Ringvaart. The 1 meter wide box is straight while the concrete slab is S-shaped.

The main bridge over the motorway (138 m long), is also a composite structure with a 1 meter wide box of variable height.

Three of the four access ramps consist of a reinforced concrete continuous slab measuring 3.80 m wide and an 8 m span.

The fourth ramp is a «helix» formed of four semicircles tingling of different radii. This ramp has a width of 4.50 m and consists of a reinforced concrete slab resting via a joint on metal columns.

The development of the surrounding area includes a school exit, car and bicycle parking, 95 m of new asphalt road, 60 m of new road pavement, 135 m of concrete cycle track, 270 m of bike path in stabilized porphyry, a picnic area …