Background information:
The name seems to contradict itself a bit, because a Vliet is a watercourse where ebb and flow occur, which does not often occur in situations within the dike. But it does say something about the history of this area near Hooge Zwaluwe. This bridge was part of the Langstraat railway line, also known as the Halvezolen line. To be precise, a few meters east of guard house no. 7. In 1978 this bridge was replaced by a culvert. This was possible because the polder underwent various modernizations and it made a significant difference in maintenance of the structure, as it is called in civil engineering.
Architectural details:
The bridge abutments consist of cross-bonded masonry with natural stone corner stones. The girders are placed on a sturdy rolling layer in the bridge abutments. The free span of over 3.5 meters is modest by bridge standards, but it is sufficient for an important water drainage and supply ditch, now referred to as an A-waterway. After all, it is also about the depth of the ditch. In dry times the water level was up to 2.5 meters below the bottom of the bridge girders, while in wet times the water level can be up to 1.5 meters below the bridge girders. In terms of bridge abutments, the Halvezolen line is designed as a double-track route everywhere. History tells us that it never came to that. The Binnenpoldersche Vliet bridge also only had 1 girder for the track. However, there was a foot bridge parallel to it until 1978. That footbridge certainly improved the life of the railway guard at the time.
At Markenburg we have chosen to supply two railway girders as standard and also the wooden footbridge girder with handrails. It is then up to the builder which configuration is preferred. This bridge can effortlessly handle various track centre-to-centre distances. In 1:160 from 25 to 33mm and in 1:87 from 46 to 60mm
