Bike and footbridge ‘Scheepswerfbrug’ opened officially, Hemiksem (BE)

On the border of Schelle and Hemiksem, the ‘shipyard bridge’, a cycling and walking bridge over the Benedenvliet, was inaugurated on Friday. It connects the centre of Schelle with the abbey park in Hemiksem. The 42 m long bridge is a landmark in the valley of the Vliet, it is part of the “Land Development Plan Open Space Connections Rupelstreek” of the Flemish Land Agency. The bridge was partly realized in view of the plans to develop the south wing of Hemiksem’s Saint Bernard Abbey into a cultural experience centre including a joint library for Hemiksem-Schelle-Niel. The bridge will improve accessibility from Niel and Schelle. This bridge strengthens the link with nature and water. From this height, it tangibly increases the experiential value of water and greenery.

Ney & Partners is the architect and engineer of this bridge. ‘Kempens Landschap’ was the client.