KOSMOS – a multifaceted megaproject
In recent years, the Department of Public Works has conducted what is known as a contract survey, an inventory of the state of maintenance of all the objects it manages. Whereas in the past specifications were then put out to tender, nowadays contractors are presented with demand specifications. A contractor provides solutions in his bid, incorporating the lifespan, the degree of traffic disruption caused by the job and, of course, the price. Using a number of formulas, the tender sum then rolls out. Van der Ende also participated in acquiring a number of contracts. The result is the Kosmos project: 21 objects in the provinces of North Brabant and Limburg.
Kosmos stands for Artwork Maintenance Together with the Market Under System-Based Contract Management. Quite a mouthful. Harry Boogert, head of project management Kosmos, Ries Blom, project coordinator Kosmos, Henk Ras, paint technical inspector and occupational health and safety representative at Kosmos and Richard Draër, head of the business office, especially focused on the occupational health and safety and environmental legislation give an explanation of the huge project.
“All objects – works of art – in the Netherlands that fall under Rijkswaterstaat were tendered per two provinces,” Harry Boogert quips. “For us, the duo of North Brabant and Limburg came out on top. We have to have a total of 21 objects ready next October. Initially it was scheduled for two seasons, but Rijkswaterstaat reduced it to just over one year because of other contractors. The order is for some eleven million euros; given Van der Ende’s company size and the relatively short time frame in which the job must be completed, this is a mega-project.”
Precise requirements
“Those demand specifications specify the requirements that the property must meet during the warranty period,” says Richard Draër. “The contractor has to indicate how it will meet those requirements.” Harry Boogert adds: “Then the contractor must write out solutions for each individual object in consultation with Rijkswaterstaat. Ultimately, after the necessary adjustments and modifications, a version must then emerge that is acceptable to Rijkswaterstaat.”
He continues: “In September, planning was done and work plans were prepared in detail. In essence, this meant that our own specifications were written. In late September, early October the actual fieldwork will start. In 2007 an estimated 15 to 20 Van der ende employees will be working on it; in 2008 that number will be greatly increased to 35 to 40. Part of the work will be carried out in shop, that is, in Van der Ende’s workshop in IJmuiden. It concerns the dismountable and transportable parts of an object.”
Weir at Roermond
The first project to be tackled – partly as a shop project – is the weir at Roermond. This will be dismantled and the parts taken to IJmuiden where they will be preserved at KBR Staalstraalin IJmuiden our sister company. Ries Blom: “Bridge parts, yokes, sliders, everything is blasted and preserved for corrosion. It involves a total of 54 sliders, eighteen yokes and seventeen bridge sections. Logistically, it is also a job with quite an impact. After all, the bridge parts and the sliders must remain available at all times: in emergency situations, the parts must be able to be returned and reinstalled immediately, wet paint or not.”
Another special project are the two monumental bridges at Bunde and Geulle. These are two arched bridges of approximately 60 meters in length with a riveted construction from the 1930s. Because of the characteristic construction with those rivets, they fall under monument conservation. “Therefore, the repairs must be done with authentic materials, with a preference for reusing the original parts. Usually this succeeds. What is special is that the layers of lead iron mire have to be removed, because that mire has been banned since the mid-1990s. That work must be done under the safest possible conditions and the waste must also be disposed of safely,” said Ries Blom.
Five drawbridges
The maintenance work on five drawbridges around Eindhoven, across the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal and the Wilhelminakanaal, is also an appealing part of the Kosmos project. “The work there is realized in fourteen days per drawbridge. In September, the first bridge at Town of Gerwen was completely dismantled and preserved in shop. Cosmos is quite a multifaceted project, with a lot involved,” Harry Boogert concludes.