Autobahnmeisterei Leer (Bezirk Oldenburg)

When:

17 April 2015

10:30 Hour - 17:15 Hour

Event organizer:North-east region

Pricing Leden:Free

LEER - A visit was paid to the Verein für Straβenbau und Verkehrsingenieure (VSVI), Bezirksgruppe Ost Friesland, with 12 participants. This included about half from the Region Division KIVI North. The other half of the participants came from the relevant KIVI departments, elsewhere in the Netherlands.

From the German side, the chairman, vice-chairman, plus a board member of the VSVI in Ost Friesland were present. As well as some senior representatives of the Niedersächsische Landesbehörde für Straβenbau und Verkehr: Herr Delfs, Leiter in Geschäftsbereich Oldenburg; Herr Buchholz, Leiter in Geschäftsbereich Aurich. Both these gentlemen, after being welcomed by Piet Dijkshoorn (KIVI Noord board member) and Hilde Kruze-Edenhuizen (1. Vorsitzende von VSVI Ost Friesland), made two interesting presentations. These provided an excellent insight into the organisation of both Geschäftsbereiche and highlighted all the different tasks and responsibilities. Besides maintenance and new construction, these included traffic management, cooperation with other road authorities and communication with road users. It turned out that the funding system in Germany was quite different from that of Rijkswaterstaat in the Netherlands. Besides the care for the Autobahn network, there is also care for Bundestraβen in the management area, plus - curiously - responsibility for air traffic. In the discussion, it became clear why (unlike Rijkswaterstaat in the Netherlands since 2013) water traffic and infrastructure is organised separately in Germany. This was followed by a presentation by Heiko Schurmann (2. Vorsitzende VSVI Ost Friesland and Geschäftsführer Wartung und Winterdienst in Geschäftsbereich Aurich). Again, there were quite a few differences regarding road maintenance in the Netherlands. This was followed by some interesting short films about Winterdienst and the 250th anniversary of the Niedersächsische Landesbehörde für Straβenbau und Verkehr, founded as early as 1764. Nice to see that in Germany, too, people organise open days just like at the Department of Public Works. Then it was time for an excellent sandwich lunch. Here lively informal contacts were established and there was some extra time for smaller-scale discussions. After lunch, the first thing we looked at was the security of the Emstunnel. This is housed in the Autobahnmeisterei building, pending its inclusion as part of the main traffic control centre in Hanover. Incidentally, it is expected, that there will then always remain the possibility of tunnel monitoring at local level. Safety in and around the tunnel, the ability to respond to incidents, accidents and possible emergencies were discussed in detail. So far, this is one of the reasons for local tunnel security. Interesting was again a discussion, on the similarities and differences between the two countries in monitoring and securing tunnels.

This was followed by a tour of the Autobahnmeisterei Leer. Here we saw quite a few differences in equipment and vehicle fleet compared to Rijkswaterstaat. Partly caused by the management and maintenance of "local" Bundesstraβen. This requires entirely different equipment. The same applies to ice control. Then it was time, to get into the cars for a visit to the Jan Berghausbrücke in Leer. This was preceded by an interesting overview of the various - necessary - reconstructions of this bridge, due to the necessary handling of ever larger cruise ships being built upstream of the bridge at the Meyerwerft in Papenburg. The last reconstruction of the bridge took place in 2008. Incidentally, it is the only existing (long-distance) bank connection across the Ems (besides the tunnel in the Autobahn. In this last bridge reconstruction, a pylon was removed and replaced by a new pylon some distance away. To increase the passage width in the open bridge to 56.50 metres. This width could only be achieved cost-effectively by opening two bridge sections. In the closed position, these two sections rest on top of each other without a supporting structure. This is unique and a technical tour de force in the construction of movable bridges. For the reconstruction, the bridge was closed for 14 months.

All details were considered on site. The smallest bridge section to be opened has a movement mechanism of 4 times 110 kW, while the (old) largest movable bridge section can be moved using 3 times 75 kW. Everything was covered, including a look into the bridge basement for the largest movable bridge section, opening both bridge sections, etc.. The various technical aspects of this very unique bridge and the problems caused by its reconstruction were also explained in detail by our German colleagues.

With a fairly comprehensive thank-you session for this interesting day (including the usual exchange of business gifts) plus the agreement that the mutual cooperation from both sides will be further shaped in the future (2016), the first full exchange between KIVI Noord and VSVI Ost Friesland came to an end. People drove home with satisfaction, bearing in mind, the question of what future topics (could) undoubtedly come up in the future. This is something both boards will consider, after the 2015 summer break.

Text: Ir. P. Dijkshoorn, Boardmember KIVI Northern District, Manager Events and activities.

Description

This activity is the counter-visit in Germany agreed in April 2014, for the visit of members and board of our "sister organisation": Niedersächsischen Vereinigung de Straszenbau - und Verkehrsingenieure (VSVI), Bezirksgruppe Ostfriesland, to Rijkswaterstaat Noord Nederland, district North-East on 10 April 2014.
The purpose of the "cross-border cooperation" was previously indicated as follows:
- exchange of mutual experiences and ideas.
- organise access to mutually organised company visits and lectures/(mini) seminars.
- carry out excursions and study visits.
- promotion of (mutual) professional interests
- cooperation in solving technical questions.
To further shape these goals across borders naturally requires the necessary time. In this respect, this activity is the second step in a process.
Contacts so far have already shown, however, that both public - and private parties (can) learn from these cross-border initiatives. Not only are the organisational differences on both sides significant, but also the operational practices in management and maintenance of infrastructure and management are different.
When preparing this activity, it was therefore decided, to focus on organisations, management and maintenance, plus tunnel management (Ems-Autobahntunnel) and cooperation between emergency services. Further consideration can/will also be given to the differences in environmental management (in terms of content and personnel)on both sides of the border. Finally, the programme offers the opportunity to take a look at the traffic centre of the "Emstunnel Leer" (currently still decentralised)and at/in the largest bascule bridge in Europe (this in connection with the cruise ships of the Mayer Werft in Papenburg).

10:30 - 11:00 Reception and welcome participants at the Autobahnmeisterei Leer by Dietmar Hitz (Geschäftsführer Regional Geschäftsbereich Oldenburg) and the Board of VSVI Bezirksgruppe Ostfriesland).
11:00 start Day programme.
11:00 - 11:30 a.m. Presentation Regional Geschäftsbereich Aurich (organisation, management Landstraszen), by Heiko Schürmann.
11:30 - 12:00 a.m. Presentation Regional Geschäftsbereich Oldenburg (organisation, management Autobahnen0, by Dietmar Hitz.
12:00 - 12:30 Question round and discussion
12:30 - 13:00 Presentation "Betriebsdiensten" (working methods, winter service, contracts etc.)
13:00 - 14:00 Joint sandwich lunch
14:00 - 14:20 Film on 250-year anniversary of Staszenbau in Niedersachsen.
14:20 - 14:40 h Film about Werkholzbrücke (Emsbrücke in B436 near Leer) by Herr Buchholz.
14:40 - 16:00 h Guided tour of the Autobahnmeisterei and Tunnel Power Station (sub-groups).
16:00 - 17:00 h Technical visit to the Werkholzbrücke in B436 at Leer.
Approx. 17:15 h Closing of activity at the Autobahnmeisterei Leer.

Speaker(s)

Herr Hilko Kruse - Edenhusen (1. Vorsitzende VSVI Bezirksgruppe Ostfriesland und Strabag)
Herr Dietmar Hitz.(Geschäftsführer Regional Geschäftsbereich Oldenburg)
Herr Heiko Schürmann. (2. Vorsitzende VSVI Bezirksgruppe Ostfriesland und Geschäftsführer Regional Geschäftsbereich Aurich)
Herr Buchholz.
Herr Piet Dijkshoorn (Vorstand Mitglied Kön. Ingenieurs Verein Nord Niederlande
Geschäftsbereich Ereignisen & Aktivitäten)