Renovation & extension of locks in the Meuse

The Meuse inland water transport fairway is being upgraded to accommodate vessels up to class Vb. The navigation locks at Born, Maasbracht and Heel consist each of several parallel lock chambers stemming a maximum water level difference of 12 m. At each complex one lock chamber is extended from 140 m to 225 m length. The other lock chambers, including gates, slides and driving equipment are renovated.

Lievense prepared the tender design for Besix-Mourik, who won the D&C contract. Lievense’s next tasks included the preparation of final and detailed designs and risk analyses for them.

The lengthening of lock chambers includes the construction of new concrete lock bays and lock chambers, reconstruction of old lock bays and rearrangement of the outports. The lock chambers have anchored walls with 18 m retaining height and an underwater floor of reinforced concrete.

The renovation of the other locks included reconstruction of the upstream lock bays and stabilization and reinforcement of the walls and floors of the lock chambers.

Activities:

• tender design, final design and detailed design of:

- lock extensions

- stabilization of lock walls

- exchange construction between the locks

• risk analysis

• systems engineering

• design review