IJmuiden sea lock project enters final phase

The contours of the world’s largest sea lock in IJmuiden are now clearly visible, meaning that the final phase of construction has begun.

As reported in the last update, OpenIJ – a consortium of construction companies building the sea lock – will continue with the construction of the Loswal (quay) on the Zuidersluiseiland.

In the period from September 2020 to June 2021, OpenIJ will be building a new quay on the Zuidersluiseiland, next to the storehouse of the Heida company. The new quay – also to be used as a car landing place for inland ships – will extend the facilities at the Zuidersluiseiland. In the period March and April 2021, work is being carried out to the earth-retaining structure and the embankment protection.

In March, the Middensluisweg near the flood defence north will be tarmacked. The Middensluisweg is part of the public road across the locks that will be open to mopeds, bicycles and pedestrians as from 29 March 2021. The Middensluisweg will be open to car traffic at a later stage.

Flood defence south is where the OpenIJ concrete mixing plant previously stood. The concrete mixing plant has produced more than 300,000 m3 of concrete for the construction of the sea lock. In the coming weeks, the future dyke at this location will be raised to the required height after which OpenIJ will start the construction of the road on top of the dyke.

Last week, (during the closures of the North Lock due to planned maintenance by technical service provider SPIE), OpenIJ started with the application of protection material to the bottom of the Nieuwe Zeesluis at the inner head. Once the closures of the North Lock have ended, various works will take place in and near the inner and outer approach channels to the North Lock. Shipping traffic will be taken into account during these works. In week numbers 12-14 (22 March to 8 April 2021), OpenIJ will complete the application of protection material at the inner head of the Nieuwe Zeesluis.

During the period from 12 to 14 April 2021, OpenIJ will start the application of protection material to the bottom of the Nieuwe Zeesluis at the outer head.

During the closures of the North Lock from 19 to 22 April 2021, OpenIJ will apply protection material to the bottom of the Nieuwe Zeesluis at the outer head. There will be a lock gate replacement of the North Lock on 21 April 2021. The closures of the North Lock have been mentioned in Announcement to Shipping No. 08/2021.

In week numbers 17-21 (end of April to end of May 2021), the remaining protection material will be applied at the outer head of the Nieuwe Zeesluis. For this, no further lock closures of the North Lock will be necessary.