Charlotte takes you with her as she explores the Ijsselbrug during an Instawalk organised by Rijkswaterstaat in November 2024
I’m not quite sure what has come over me recently, but I have started to ask myself ‘why not’ when I see opportunities arise relating to my photography. This attitude has been recently rewarded with an invite to speak at the Photo and Video Show in London in 2024 (which I am insanely excited about) and a shortlisting for an exhibition in Glasgow.
However, this blog is about another opportunity which I got to be part of here in The Netherlands. Being picked to be one of just 20 photographers from the whole of The Netherlands to take part in an the Ijsselbrug Instawalk organised by Rijkswaterstaat. Rijkswaterstaat is the executive agency of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management here in The Netherlands.
I have to admit when I first saw the opportunity advertised on Instagram it intrigued me, but I dismissed it, I mean why would they pick me? I photograph trees and I am English – probably not their ideal demographic photographer! However, I mulled it over, and decided I had nothing to lose and submitted my application, which included my reasons for applying and what I felt I could offer as a participant. I was delighted when I got an email acknowledging my application was being considered, and even more amazed when I got the email inviting me to the event as one of the selected photographers!
I was going to have a unique chance to explore under the bridge where only those working on the bridge would normally get to go!
Let me give you a little background as to why I’d be even remotely interested in photographing this bridge! Because as I pointed out, this is not my normal photographic subject matter! For nearly 13 years I have lived in the Netherlands now. The Ijjsel brug has become known as the ‘big bridge’ to us as a family. In the first 7 years here, I drove over the big bridge four times a day taking Henry to school. Its location for us is integral to moving westwards across the country. Yes, there are other options, but this bridge makes the journey direct and faster. But like any part of a road network, as well as moving across it, I have sat on top of it many a time in a traffic jam, and in high winds (especially with the trailer) I have been quite nervous to drive over it. In all my life here however, I have never walked under it.
Our first experience with the bridge actually happened the day we moved to the Netherlands. With no Dutch, no knowledge of the road network, very tired and stressed with the house move, we came to the Velperbroek junction and the bridge was closed! That was back in 2012. Trying to figure out a way to our new house when the sat nav insisted the only way was over the bridge was more than a little memorable!
The last couple of years I have actually forgotten what it is like to approach the bridge without wondering how long the ques will be! Because in 2022 the bridge started its 4-year renovation. With not just lane closures, but whole bridge span closures. During the last two years I have to admit to being a little confused at how it could possibly take 4 years to mend a bridge when all I could see was a couple of little tents on top of the bridge. I can’t be the only one who has thought this! I had absolutely no idea what was going on under the bridge out of sight – but the Instawalk opportunity changed all that.
So, with more than a little trepidation but a whole heap of excitement I arrived at the works site for the Ijsselbrug on the afternoon of the 8th November. Meeting with the other photographers it quickly became clear that I was not alone in never having photographed a bridge before. However, everyone who had been selected was really enthusiastic to explore this amazing opportunity and to make photos and videos that would be shared on our Instagram accounts and then used by Rijkswaterstaat in their communication about the bridge renovations.
Our tour lasted several hours. It was AMAZING!
We were guided in small groups by an individual working on the project who told so much about the project, and answered any questions we had. And the best bit - we were encouraged to make whatever photos and videos we wanted.
Here are a few of the most important facts about the bridge renovation:
Starting 2021, every single bolt and join in the bridge has been inspected to assess the work to be completed. Work carried out includes not only repairs, but renewing some elements and the opportunity to also improve the structure.
- The project started in 2021 and will complete in 2026
- Over 700 crossbeams and main girders are being strengthened.
- Nearly 2km extra steel beams are being added.
- Over 1,000 welded joints are being strengthened
- Over 10,500 square meters will be painted
It is 60 years old, and after these renovations, it is predicted to be safe for another 30 years.
The whole bridge is split into two steel components heading east towards Germany and a large concrete element heading west towards Holland. The concrete element is solid and requires no work at this time. However, both the steel spans needed work. Initially the inner span was closed (2022-2024), and work completed. Now the outside span is undergoing its renovation, and that was what we experienced.
I thought I’d share a whole lot of photos and try and explain a little bout each photo, so you can learn a little of what I did from my experience. It was fascinating and I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity by Rijkswaterstaat.
Just a point to make, I was fairly concerned about interpreting the bridge in my usual creative manner with my photography – unsure that was what the organisers had in mind! But during the briefing we were encouraged to be: Hard to get, Hard to copy and Hard to ignore! So I decided I would continue with my creativity, but also create some images that were a little safer to cover off all bases!
This is one of the creative images that I created to tell a story that you just can't physically see in one go. I love how it has come together. It is the story of what is going on above the bridge with the flow of traffic and closed lanes, combined with the underside of the bridge, covered in scaffold where all the work was happening.
This is another image where I combined an image of the underside of the bridge, with an image of the orange work porta- cabins and the back of a fluorescent works jacket bearing the Rijkswaterstaat name.
Join me as we explore the bridge together
Our walk started under the bridge on the Duiven side of the river. The first thing that struck me was the immense amount of scaffolding. Something I had absolutely no idea that was under the bridge all this time during the work. It was like a massive maze of verticals and horizontals. I explored multiple exposure and used 9 images laid on top of each other here to accentuate that feeling of mass and not being able to get a direct line of sight through it. I loved the red, white and blue colour as well.
Certainly not the most exciting image - but an important one to me. On the junction where I join the motorway there is a large waste processing plant - AVR. It actually uses the waste to create heat, with a capacity that corresponds to the heat consumption of 14,000 homes. This is used to heat Westervoort, Duiven and parts of Arnhem, which I think is just brilliant that our rubbish can be turned into energy. The way it is carried across the river is within these large black pipes which span the whole width of the bridge. I never really thought about how it got across the river before, and now because I asked I do know!
I'd never really thought to consider what one might do in a bridge renovation! But checking every single bolt and repainting to protect are major element. Here I combined three different images of steel work of varying paint colours with joins and bolts to once again accentuate how much work there is to do.
The beautiful colours of the elements of rusted metal. Beauty in deterioration.
Under the bridge - exploring the graphic structures in black and white. I found the lines and curves fascinating and beautiful. The split between the spans of bridge, which from the road you barely notice but are quite clear from below. The vertical and horizontal lines, the long spans of steel and shorter cross elements. I love how the light and shadow play and create such graphic elements to make images of. Whilst I did zoom in to isolate some of the elements, I also liked including the sky and the water and surrounding landscape in the images to give a sense of location, and to show the bridge where it is.
Here I am standing under the concrete side of the bridge - that is not involved in the renovations. It's bold, simple, smooth structure is in complete contrast to the complex steel bridges that are made up of multiple elements with clear joins.
Up on top of the bridge I had the unique opportunity to stand in the middle of an empty motorway!
We got to climb the scaffolding that brought us up between the two bridges onto the top. Standing almost over the fast flowing motorway was quite an experience, and every time I drive over the bridge I am amazed how close I was to the traffic while I made my images. This photo is a multiple exposure - bringing the top of the bridge that the drivers see, together with the scaffolding under the bridge taht the drivers have no idea about - a hidden element of the renovation.
On top of the bridge there are some tiny tents - I have to admit, I thought that was where the work was going on, and was fairly frustrated as I sat in traffic jams to cross the bridge that there appeared to be no work going on to repair the bridge! I wonder how many other people think the same?
I had no idea that this massive tent was where all the work was going on under the bridge. And the reason for the tent? To be able to keep a temperature controlled environment that was warm enough for the welding and painting to take place. The actually have to warm the steel up to ensure the repairs are successful I was amazed to put my hand on the steel beams and for them to be more than just warm to the touch! Conversely - in the summer when it was 30 degrees outside, it was 45 degrees in the tent!
I was fascinated by the colours, diagrams, numbers and lettering all over the new steel. Each of these annotations means something. Each colour denotes a detail or a signing off of a stage or element of the work. These annotations ensure quality control, safety and accountability during the process.
The thick red plastic drapes to protect against the light of the welding.
Looking through a hole in the tent plastic to the underbody of the bridge - a unique perspective that I combined with another image I made of a wider span of the bridge. I really enjoyed making these multiple exposures that brought different elements I saw together to tell a stronger story.
Who would have thought that lines and shapes of the inside of a bridge could be quite so beautiful. I just love the subtle colour variations and all the different lines; curbed and straight and the bolts. Some of this is brand new, others is the older elements.
As you will have noticed, there is a rather diverse range of images in this blog! To finish I wanted to share some graphic abstracts I made of some of the more colourful elements - the scaffolding poles, the orange work huts and the paintwork in situ.
One last image as I got in my car to head home. I couldn't help but take one more stop to look behind me, from a point I would never get to stand again. The afternoon had turned to early evening and the floodlights from under the bridge were reflecting on the river below. One last chance to make a creative image (9 images laid on top of each other in camera).
I hope you have enjoyed not just the images, but also the little descriptions about what I wanted to say with them, and got a feeling of the experience I had. Choosing just a few images for this blog was insanely hard - so I have also create an online album you can go and have a look at that has over 140 images in it to give you an even more immersive experience.
https://charlottebellamyphotography.pic-time.com/-instawalkrwsijsselbrug/gallery
Once again - that you Rijkswaterstaat for the amazing opportunity and to all those who organised the event and looked after and encouraged the group to explore, enjoy and embrace this once in a lifetime opportunity. Sporadically these Insta walks are organised around the country, and I shall be watching out for other possibilities in the future. But this one was a bit special, because it was so cloe to where I live.
This web page has lots of great videos all about the bridge renovations and lots of info if you would like to know more.
https://www.rijkswaterstaat.nl/wegen/projectenoverzicht/a12-renovatie-ijsselbruggen/videos
To see another time I went a bit outside my comfort zone in the city of London, you can read this blog post.
