Bridge of trees A9

Rijkswaterstaat and the municipality of Amstelveen offered Amstelveen residents the opportunity to participate in the design of the new bridge over the A9 motorway. Prior to this round of voting, a team of experts assessed all submitted proposals based on factors including safety, technology, cost, and functionality. Our design was selected as one of four contenders for Amstelveen residents to vote on at the end of November 2017. With 77% of the 12,000 votes cast, the "Bomenbrug" design proved to be the clear favorite. Paul de Ruiter: "In our proposal, we designed the bridge as a green entrance to Amstelveen's city center. A landscape symbol for the city's internationally renowned native garden identity." Alderman for A9, Herbert Raat (VVD): "Amstelveen has made a clear choice. We are overwhelmed by the success. This demonstrates that residents are eager to participate in decisions about how their city will look. The design fits well with the city's green character."

Iconic value on the A9

From the A9, our design presents itself as a recognizable green landmark. We designed the bridge's supports as large tree pots, around which the bridge deck seemingly winds. These enormous tree pots, containing large native trees, will soon form a unique landmark in the national road network. In the evening, the trees and vegetation will be subtly illuminated, so that this new Amstelveen icon, even in the dark, forms a safe oasis of calm above the underlying high-speed traffic network. Paul de Ruiter: "The meandering paths, combined with the trees and vegetation, give the bridge the appearance of a leafy park."

Smoother flow and safer crossing

The bridge for cyclists and pedestrians will span the intersection, parallel to Keizer Karelweg. Viewed from the south, the bridge begins at Ouderkerkerlaan and ends at the bus station. This bridge will separate motorized traffic from slow-moving traffic, creating smoother flow at the intersection and making the crossing safer for cyclists and pedestrians. The design team, consisting of Paul de Ruiter Architects, Complex Urban Landscape Design, and Tielemans Bouwconstructies, will focus in the coming period on further developing the leafy connecting bridge, which will enhance the city's green space. Construction of the bicycle bridge will be completed in the final phase of the A9 widening project and is expected to open around 2026.