Lecture The Meuse Route
Description
Rijkswaterstaat is working to improve the safety, navigability and nature development of the Meuse. The works required for this purpose collectively form one of the larger infrastructural projects in the Netherlands: De Maaswerken.
Maaswerken consists of three projects: Maasroute, Zandmaas and Grensmaas.
MAASROUTE
The modernisation of the Meuse Route will be achieved by carrying out a number of measures to improve the navigability of the Meuse as an important European shipping route. For example, three lock complexes - Born, Maasbracht and Heel - do not have a single lock chamber where two-barge push ships can pass. At each complex, Rijkswaterstaat is extending one of the chambers to 225 metres so that this will be possible. These are major adjustments, especially as the Born and Maasbracht locks have the largest drop in the Netherlands. In the Maas-Waal Canal, Rijkswaterstaat is raising 5 bridges: two bridges over the lock at Weurt and three bridges in Nijmegen. The Juliana Canal will also be partly widened so that ships can pass each other more easily. Dams are being modified to allow level rises. And several new locks will be built: a flood lock in Heumen and a flood lock in Itteren. After implementation of all Meuse Route measures, 8,300 fewer trucks are expected to drive on the A2 and A73 in Limburg every day in 2019. That is half of the expected growth in road transport. Favourable therefore for both cost reduction of goods transport and decongestion of the road network and the environment.
The modernisation of the waterway is less well known to the public than the flood protection measures. Yet about half of the total Maaswerken investments benefit the shipping route. Spread over some 15 years, Rijkswaterstaat is investing around €550 million in this. After implementation of the measures, the Meuse route will be completely ready for its role as a fully-fledged primary waterway in the European main waterway network.
ZANDMAAS
The Zandmaas project will deepen and widen the river to increase its water capacity. Rijkswaterstaat is constructing two high-water channels (in Lomm and Well-Aijen) that will flow together during periods of high water. In urban areas, quays have been constructed or raised to achieve a higher level of protection.
GRENSMAAS
The new Grensmaas project will improve flood protection and develop more than 1,100 ha of new nature in the Meuse valley between Maastricht and Roosteren. This project is financed from the proceeds of gravel and sand extraction.
In addition to a brief overview of the overall Meuse Works, this interesting evening gives particular insight into the Meuse Route project. Specifically, the extensions of the lock chambers in Born, Maasbracht and Heel will be discussed. You will get an insight into the background and, in particular, the how and why of the nautical and technical aspects. The contractual side will also be discussed.
Speaker(s)
The speakers are Ir. Arjan Hijdra and ing. Erwin Pechtold.
Both evening speakers have been involved in the preparation and realisation of shipping locks for many years and work for the Maas Works project from the Rijkswaterstaat Construction Department.
Location
Zalencentrum Prinsenhof, Hoofdstraat 43 , Best
Organiser
Region South
Name and contact details for information
Information at ing. Erwin Pechtold, t: 06-109 24 963, e: erwin.pechtold@rws.nl. Register with KIVI NIRIA Congress Bureau using the registration button below.