Kick-Off for Afsluitdijk Renovation

A four year large scale renovation project was given the official starting signal for work to reinforce the dyke on the Frisian (Eastern) side of the Afsluitdijk. today, 1st April, by Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management.

“For 87 years now, this iconic structure has protected a large part of our country from water. With this large-scale renovation, the Afsluitdijk will be ready for the future in four years,” Minister Van Nieuwenhuizen.

The dyke needs to be made stronger and about two metres higher. The Afsluitdijk will be covered with 75,000 newly designed sustainable concrete blocks. Due to the special shape of the blocks, less concrete is required than previously used material. That means a saving of 56% in CO2 emissions. The concrete blocks will be placed on top of the basalt blocks used to construct the causeway almost 90 years ago.

The drainage complex at Den Oever (at the south west end of the dyke) will be expanded with new drainage locks and two large pumping stations. This will allow more of the water that enters the IJsselmeer from the River IJssel to be discharged into the Wadden Sea. The pumping stations are energy efficient. The energy required is generated with 2.7 hectares of solar panels at Den Oever. The drainage locks at Kornwerderzand will receive a flood barrier that will protect the locks against turbulent weather. In order to restore the connection between the Wadden Sea and the IJsselmeer for migratory fish, a fish migration river will be constructed by ‘The New Afsluitdijk’.

The work will be carried out by the Levvel consortium (BAM, Van Oord, Rebel) and will be completed by the end of 2022. After the work has been completed, Levvel will remain responsible for maintenance for a period of 25 years.

Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management gave the official starting signal.

Title Featured Photograph: The Afsluitdijk looking towards the West.

Source Van Oord