Slowly, the end is in sight. Despite the bad weather in recent weeks, the widening of the Julianakanaal remains on schedule. The southern work area near Berg aan de Maas is now complete. What are the next steps?
Jacques Timmermans, environmental manager at Rijkswaterstaat, and Anna Steenbergen, environmental manager at Van den Herik-Sliedrecht, share an update on the activities.
Southern Work Area Completed, Restoration of Banks Follows
The southern work area is complete, says Timmermans. The canal bed is protected here and the waterway is ready for shipping. But that doesnt mean everything is finished. We are still working on restoring the plots and reconfiguring the area for at least another six months, adds Steenbergen.
An important part of this restoration is the redesign of the banks. Towpaths are being constructed for inspections, which are also used by walkers, says Steenbergen. We are also replanting trees along the canal and reconstructing the Eastern Canal Road.
The soil removed from the canal is transported by ship and reused in other projects in the area. We are looking for the best way to reuse this soil locally, says Steenbergen.
Progress in the Middle and North
Not only in the south, but also in the middle and northern sections of the project, everything is going according to plan. We are still on schedule to open for shipping in April 2025, confirms Timmermans. We have almost placed all the stones from the depots on the canal bed.
At the lock in Born in the northern work area, hard work is being done on the new bed protection. When ships have to wait here and then start again, a lot of force is exerted on the canal bed, explains Steenbergen. That is why we are securing the stones with a layer of concrete so that everything stays in place.
In the northern work area, almost all the silt has been dug out. We can now focus on building the new bed, says Steenbergen. Timmermans adds: This is done in layers: first the bentonite mat, then a gravel layer, and above that a layer of broken stone. To speed up the process, a second team has been deployed to apply the bentonite mats. This way we can complete the work as quickly as possible, says Steenbergen.
Engaged Community
Although the schedule is going well, the weather remains a challenge. Rain and snow can affect the work, says Timmermans. We would love to have a blue sky and sunshine every day.
Despite the challenges, the team is confident about the coming months. We are very excited about the progress and the involvement of the community, says Steenbergen. The recent open day attracted many visitors. The enthusiasm was enormous. It shows how much interest there is in this project, she says.
With the end in sight, there is already thinking behind the scenes about the next steps. We can almost start filling the canal with water, says Timmermans. That is an important moment that we look forward to with enthusiasm.