DYWIDAG Strand Tendons for Belgian Turbo Roundabout

Two of Belgium’s main arterial roads, E314 and A13/E313, meet at the Lummen junction, approx. 37km north-west of Maastricht. The intersection dates from the early seventies and was built as two highways crossing at different levels. An oval roundabout provides for the interchange of traffic between the two highways, and the junction also has exits to the nearby industrial estate.

The busy intersection is considered to be dangerous and causes traffic jams of approx. four hours per day. While the two main axes of the highways intersect without any problems thanks to the bridge structure, traffic wanting to change highways depends on the roundabout. There are four points of conflict where fast traffic from the highway must give priority to the slower traffic on the roundabout.

Since an expansion of the exit lanes on E313, which was carried out in 2003, brought only little improvement, construction work began to create a lasting solution for the junction. In the preparatory phase, the roads leading to the industrial estate were replaced by separate access and exit roads on the A13.

Work on the roundabout itself started in May 2008 and is scheduled for completion in 2012. The old structure is replaced by what is known as a turbo roundabout. In this special kind of roundabout, the number of lanes changes, and waiting times can be considerably shortened by directing traffic into their respective lanes at an early stage. Two new levels and eight bridges are being built at the roundabout.

Total cost is estimated to be approx. 40 million Euros.

DYWIDAG-Systems International Belgium supplied the prestressing systems for two of the roundabout’s bridges. DYWIDAG-Systems International Belgium installed a total of 90t of 19-0.62" DYWIDAG Strand Tendons with MA Anchorages and Bond Head Anchorages. Additionally, DYWIDAG-Systems International also carried out the tensioning and grouting works. In order to limit friction loss in the curved decks, the 21 DYWIDAG Strand Tendons with 19 strands each were installed in the ducts before the concrete was poured.