The Municipality of Haarlemmermeer and the Rijnland Water Board join forces for a large-scale approach to the monumental locks in Halfweg. The municipal executive board has approved a plan to improve water flow and simultaneously renew the municipal bridges on the lock complex.

The locks, located between the Ringvaart and Zijkanaal F, are owned by the Rijnland Water Board. To guarantee the drainage of the polder in the future, it is necessary to widen the so-called flow profile of the lock. Rijnland combines this technical intervention directly with a complete restoration of the historic complex.

Dry feet

Alderman Mariette Sedee (Water) emphasizes the importance of the intervention for water management in the region: Good water management is vital for our polder. By widening the flow opening of the locks, we ensure that water from the Ringvaart can be discharged much more efficiently. This may sound like a technical exercise, but it is essential to keep dry feet in our municipality in the future. I am glad that we can facilitate Rijnland in this.

Working together

On the lock grounds there are also three bridges and a foot and cycle path. These are owned by the Municipality of Haarlemmermeer. Because Rijnlands work is extensive, these bridges and the path must also be addressed. Instead of seeing this as two separate projects, it was decided to combine the work. The municipality is financially contributing to the project so that Rijnland can immediately include the renewal of the bridges in the tender.

Alderman Marjolein Steffens of Management and Maintenance sees great advantages in this joint approach: Since we are already digging here for the lock, it makes sense to immediately include our bridges and the cycle path. This is efficient, saves costs, and prevents us from having to reopen the area for maintenance in a few years. This beautiful, monumental part of Halfweg will soon be safe and shining for many years to come.

Next steps

The municipality is contributing, subject to approval by the municipal council, over 260,000 euros to the project for renewing municipal properties. Now that the implementation agreement has been signed, the Rijnland Water Board can proceed with the tendering of the work. It is expected that after the restoration both the water flow and accessibility of the lock area will be optimal again.