Rijkswaterstaat has awarded the contract for the 1st phase of the renovation of the Main Shipping Route Lemmer-Delfzijl to Beens Constructieve Waterbouw B.V. and Hakkers Waterbouw B.V. These two parties have been successfully collaborating for over 10 years.
In the coming years, they will work on improving the shipping route. Along the route, banks, mooring facilities, and guiding structures will be replaced. The work is part of a broader replacement and renovation task and contributes to the renewal of the canal infrastructure.
The preparations for the work will start immediately. The execution is scheduled for the period 2026-2027.
What are we going to do?
Along the shipping route, banks, landing sites, and guiding structures are due for replacement at several locations.
A total of over 6 km of banks will be renewed, with wooden structures making way for steel. New guiding structures will be placed at lock Farmsum, the Eelwerder Bridge, and the Driebonds Bridge. The mooring facilities at lock Gaarkeuken, bridge Burgumerdaam, and the Princess Margriet Lock will also be renewed.
Sustainable and Nature Inclusive
During the tendering process, sustainability was explicitly considered. We assessed the plans based on, among other things, the reduction of CO₂ and nitrogen emissions. The combination of Beens - Hakkers emerged as the best based on the Best Price-Quality Ratio (BPKV) and scored maximum on the Environmental Cost Indicator (MKI), which measures the environmental impact of a project.
The execution will be carried out with clean and emission-free construction equipment, largely electrically powered. A nature-friendly bank zone will also be created at the Kolonelsdiep in Gerkesklooster, and there will be wildlife exit points so that animals can easily climb out of the canal. Reusable wooden dam wall planks, especially those below the waterline, will be reused in other projects.
Important Shipping Route
The Main Shipping Route Lemmer-Delfzijl runs through Friesland and Groningen and is an important link in the Dutch network of shipping routes. The route is essential for both the regional and national economy. Since 2014, we have been the owner and manager of this waterway. In the coming years, we will gradually improve the shipping route, aiming for a safe, smooth, and sustainable passage for class Va vessels. The renovations in this 1st phase are an important step in that process.
More information can be found on the page Main Shipping Route Lemmer-Delfzijl: Replacement and Renovation.