Groundbreaking ceremony for the replacement construction of Kriegenbrunn Lock

•    Bauer Spezialtiefbau and Züblin carry out replacement construction of the Kriegenbrunn Lock as a joint venture
•    Construction work proceeds while ongoing ship traffic continues

Erlangen, Germany – At the groundbreaking ceremony on July 26, 2024, the Aschaffenburg Waterways New Construction Authority came together with BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH and Züblin to celebrate the first major milestone for the replacement construction of the Kriegenbrunn Lock. Work on the new structure will be carried out while ongoing ship traffic continues, and is scheduled for completion by spring 2032. The new lock is being constructed in the immediate vicinity of the old lock, which will not be functionally impaired as a result of the works.

“We are very pleased to have found a contractor in Züblin and BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH who will competently implement this complex and comprehensive construction project after an intensive and cooperative tendering process,” said Dipl.-Ing. Mareike Bodsch, Head of the Aschaffenburg Waterways New Construction Authority.

New structure for modern ship traffic

The new lock will be executed as a single-chamber lock with solid construction. By using the latest technology, the new lock will be better able to meet the high loads caused by heavy ship traffic. To reduce future maintenance work, the lock is designed to be practically seamless.

The work of the joint venture, made up of BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH, Ed. Züblin AG and Züblin Spezialtiefbau GmbH, includes constructing the excavation pit as well as the replacement lock structure with three water-saving basins to the east of the existing lock, including the exit basins using the sheet pile wall method and canal connections in the upstream and downstream waters. Execution of the hydraulic steel structure and operations technology are also part of the overall order.

“We are thrilled about the opportunity to implement this important and challenging infrastructure project using our construction expertise, and would like to thank the Aschaffenburg Waterway Construction Authority for their cooperative and trusting partnership,” says Stephan von der Heyde, member of the Züblin Executive Board.

And Florian Bauer, Managing Director of BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH, emphasizes: “Today’s groundbreaking is a significant milestone for sustainable waterway development in Germany. We are excited to be part of this important infrastructure project.”

Caption:

Symbolic ground-breaking ceremony for the new Kriegenbrunn lock on July 26. From left to right: Andreas Beier, WNA Aschaffenburg; Stephan von der Heyde, Züblin; State Secretary Hartmut Höppner, BMDV; Dr. Florian Janik, Mayor of Erlangen; Dirk Schwardmann, Vice President GDWS; Mareike Bodsch, Head of WNA Aschaffenburg; Florian Bauer, Bauer Spezialtiefbau. © Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes, WSV.de.