Van Oord and KWS (a VolkerWessels company) have delivered the Hansweert dyke reinforcement project ahead of schedule. The reinforced dyke now complies with the latest Dutch safety standard, which factors in more severe storms and contributes to flood protection in the province of Zeeland.
The Scheldestromen water board had commissioned the Answest consortium consisting of Van Oord and KWS to reinforce a total of 5.2 kilometres of dyke between the lock complex in Hansweert and the Kapellebank tidal flat. Work included increasing the crest height along some sections by up to 3 metres and widening the bank by some 15 metres.
Because the dyke is wedged between the Western Scheldt and the village centre, the amount of space available for executing the project was limited, requiring a tailor-made approach. There were further restrictions owing to the dyke’s location in a Natura 2000 area. The work, which began in late 2022, was completed a full year ahead of schedule.
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Sustainable dyke reinforcement
Sustainability and environmental management were paramount in all stages of the project, making it one of the first sustainable dyke reinforcement initiatives in the Netherlands. Overall, CO2 emissions on site were reduced by approximately 1350 tonnes, mainly by deploying electric and hybrid equipment (including electric cranes and an electric excavator).
In addition, materials were transported by water wherever possible. The project team worked with the water board to draw up a soil quality map, so that the soil excavated during the project could be reused as efficiently as possible within the project boundaries. Taken together, these measures resulted in a significant reduction in emissions.
Richard Brouwer, Infra Operations Director, Van Oord: ‘The successful completion of this project demonstrates that dyke reinforcement, sustainability and a tight schedule can go hand in hand. By partnering with our client from the outset in choosing an innovative, low-emission approach, we not only contributed to flood protection in Zeeland, but also took valuable steps towards building a more sustainable infrastructure.’
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Answest consortium
The groundwork for the Hansweert project was put in place in December 2019 when Van Oord and KWS established the Answest consortium. The consortium prepared and executed the project in cooperation with the Scheldestromen water board and Witteveen + Bos consulting engineers. The completion of the dyke reinforcement project marks an important milestone on the road to protecting Zeeland against rising sea levels by 2050.
Picture: Hansweert dyke reinforcement project (photo by Van Oord).
