Order awarded: Bauer Spezialtiefbau involved in the construction of the new Kriegenbrunn lock

Erlangen-Kriegenbrunn, Germany – An awe-inspiring project: On behalf of the Aschaffenburg Waterway Construction Authority, BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH and two other joint venture partners have been tasked to build the new replacement structures for the Kriegenbrunn lock – with a net order value of roughly 450 million euros. The work of the “Schleuse Kriegenbrunn” joint venture, made up of BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH, Ed. Züblin AG and Züblin Spezialtiefbau GmbH, is planned to start in May. In spring of 2032, the lock will officially open for ship traffic.

A milestone for waterway development 

The new building of the Kriegenbrunn lock is not just a construction project: this is a significant milestone in waterway development, since it will alter the entire infrastructure of the canal system. Apart from construction of the excavation pit, overall work also includes the new building of the entire lock including water-saving basins, exit basins and the connection to the sealed stretch of canal. Moreover, this project encompasses the gates and closures of the lock, the drive and control technology as well as communication and electronic equipment. The scope of service also includes regular construction of a technical building as well as roadwork and landscaping.

Experts at going deep

The centerpiece of this construction project is the excavation pit, which will be built in the immediate vicinity of the existing lock. Profound expertise is required here, since the excavation pit – half of which is located in the groundwater – is being constructed with a depth of more than 30 m and a length of nearly 200 m while ongoing ship traffic continues. This is a real challenge, since the existing lock cannot be impacted. To protect the adjacent old lock, the excavation pit has to be installed with minimal deformation. A secant and reinforced pile wall is being executed for this task. That’s no problem for the experts from Bauer Spezialtiefbau: they have many years of experience and the required expertise when it comes to new lock construction. This has already been demonstrated by successfully completed projects like the canal locks in Suelfeld, Lauenburg, Wusterwitz, Hohenwarthe and Zerben as well as the construction of the exit basins for the Moselle lock at Trier. 

“The new building of the Kriegenbrunn Lock will not only modernize the infrastructure, but also lay the foundation for efficient and sustainable waterway management in Germany,” remarks Frank Haehnig, CEO of BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH.