The Department of Public Works (Rijkswaterstaat) has established that maintenance on the constructions on the Dutch road system can no longer be delayed. Consequently, the main infrastructure in the Netherlands is being subjected to major maintenance activities. During 2006, nine clusters – which go by the name of KOSMOS – were outsourced to private sector partners. As well as being a Dutch acronym for Kunstwerken Onderhoud in Samenwerking met de Markt Onder Systeemgerichte contractbeheersing [Construction Maintenance in Cooperation with Private Industry under Systematic Contract Management], KOSMOS is actually the name for a type of tendering procedure for optimising maintenance activities while ensuring that hindrance from traffic and irritation are kept to a minimum. The knowledge and expertise of the contracting party are also used to their full potential.
Like KOSMOS, BLOKDOOS is an acronym, standing for Brabant Limburg Onderhoud Kunstwerken en Droge Objecten Onder SCB [Brabant Limburg Maintenance of Constructions and Dry Objects under SCB]. The activities involve the delayed maintenance of 325 constructions, 36 portals and asphalt on roads including the A4, A16, A2, A58, A67 and the A76 in Brabant and Limburg.
What makes this project special is the fact that the contracting party is responsible for providing solutions and timely delivery, and must guarantee that the problem has been resolved for at least the next seven years.
The activities are being carried out in partnership with Rasenberg Wegenbouw, in addition to which Strukton is using the services of the business units Reef Infra and Strukton Infratechnieken.