Some 13 motorway bridges and viaducts in the Netherlands have been put on the priority list to be replaced because they may be subject to the same problem as the recently collapsed Carola bridge in Dresden in Germany, infrastructure minister Barry Madelener has said in a briefing to MPs.

An investigation by the TNO, and Delft and Eindhoven universities, has confirmed earlier findings by the infrastructure ministry that the Dutch bridges may also be affected by a process called hydrogen embrittlement, in which cracks form in the metal used to reinforce the concrete. That would ultimately weaken the structure.

This type of steel was commonly used in the 1950s and 1960s and the Dutch bridges may also be sensitive to the process. All 13 bridges are currently safe, the minister said.

Traffic will not be limited on the bridges and no supporting structures placed, but the bridges will be inspected and monitored for cracks and action will be taken when needed, he said. Meanwhile they will be the first to be replaced.

The Netherlands will also be in contact with the German authorities to about how they are tackling the problem, There are another 700 bridges that have been built using the same type of reinforced concrete in the country.

In a reaction to the announcement, GroenLinks-PvdA MP Habtamu de Hoop said he doubted the bridges are as safe as the minister claimed. “It would not be the first time we are confronted by the unexpected and have to take emergency measures. We need to prevent this from happening, or we will have a disaster on our hands,” RTL Nieuws quoted him as saying.