The bridge is currently a bottleneck for rail freight as the deck is frequently raised to enable ships to pass beneath. With both rail and shipping traffic set to increase, and the bridge due to reach the end of its useful life by 2020, the decision was taken to build a 4.5km deviation.
The double-track electrified line will run south of the Caland Bridge on a largely elevated alignment following Neckarweg and Theemsweg.
The €275m project is being funded by the Port of Rotterdam (€110m), the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment (€100m) and the European Union (€65m). The project is due to be completed in 2020.
