Water Transport Solutions
Inland Transport
1 574 tonnes of sheet piles
90 tonnes of steel tubes
River locks in Trier, Germany | 2018
However, the existing locks are no longer up-to-date in their dimensions and cause waiting times for lock passages. In addition, the freight transport has to share the route with the numerous tourist excursion boats. Therefore, the locks are now being progressively equipped with a second lock chamber, whose standard dimensions are 210 m x 12.5 m.
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The locks of Zeltingen and Fankel have already been expanded and are in operation. The Trier lock was one of the first to be completed as part of the earlier Moselle expansion. Age and traffic volume were decisive in the decision to undertake the construction of a second lock chamber. The overall construction project includes the expansion of the upper and lower foreports to a length of 225 meters, the relocation of the Trier gauge, the construction of a new control center for the Zeltingen, Wintrich, Detzem and Trier lock systems, as well as an ecological compensation measure at the Monaise marina. The upper foreport, the middle piers in the upstream and downstream areas, and various temporary structures including an approach pier in the downstream area, which will be created as a circular cell made of AS® 500 profiles, will be built using steel sheet pile construction. The circular cell will be dismantled after the new lock is completed. Due to the geological structure, pre-drilling is required for sheet pile work in some areas. The base of the sheet pile must be incorporated into conglomerate layers or clay and siltstone layers of low to medium strength.
For the construction of the circular cell, a guide frame is necessary. The beams are inserted into pre-drilled holes and connected with curved steel elements. Subsequently, the flat planks are set, fixed to the guide, and after closing the cell, the pile driving can begin to reach the final depth. To speed up the work, the planks are partially joined together by the construction site to form double planks. After the construction work is completed, the cell can be dismantled.
The upper forebay is built with a single anchored PU 22 sheet pile wall. As a special feature, the planks of the middle jetty are factory-armoured and delivered. A curved sheet of the same wall thickness as the sheet pile profile is welded to the pressed double plank in such a way that the trough is closed after ramming, and the sheet pile is not excessively damaged in the event of a ship impact. The cavity is systematically filled with sand or other material. The completion of the structure is scheduled for 2019. The construction costs are estimated at around 40 million euros.
