Wolfsburg:Reconstruction of the Sülfeld South Lock
Disciplines
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Marine
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Hydraulic Engineering
Companies
Dorsch Engineers
Client
Construction Authority for the Improvement of the Mittelland Canal in Hannover
Duration
From 2002 to 2005
Project Activities
- Completion of the design
- Preparation of the tender documents for the shell structures, the lock equipment and access tracks
- Preparation of the health and safety plan
Contact
Dorsch Engineers GmbH
München (Headquarters)
80687 München
Germany
Phone: +49 89 5797-0
Fax: +49 89 5797-800
E-Mail: info@dorsch.de
Description
The Mittelland Canal is to be improved as a class Vb European waterway for barge trains and large motorised barges, thus meeting the expectations relating to future ship sizes and anticipated freight volumes.
Part of the improvement works concerns the adaptation of the locks to match the new dimensions.
The Sülfeld lock complex lies some 10 km west of Wolfsburg and was constructed as a double chamber system during the period 1934 to 1938.
It was conceived to overcome a level difference of 9.00 m between the top pound if the Mittelland Canal at + 65.00 msl and the eastern pound at + 56.00 msl.
The axes of the two existing chambers are offset from one another by 90 m, and are each equipped with three open fan-shaped water-saving basins on both sides, thereby reducing the lockage volumes by 60%.
The northern chamber was found to be in better condition and was able to be renovated from 1988 to 1990.
The southern chamber however had to be completely rebuilt, with a usable length of 225 m and a width of 12.50 m, together with two lateral staged water-saving basins.
The scope of the new works includes the connections to the mooring bays, a beam-and-slab bridge across the lower pound, an operations building, access tracks with all necessary service lines, and the construction of a new pumping station.