August 24 - Rijkswaterstaat (the Dutch Highways and Waterways Agency) has confirmed that Consortium OpenIJ will develop the new IJmuiden sea lock on the North Sea Canal.
After serving the area for 100 years the Northern Lock, located at the entrance to the North Sea Canal and a key entry point to the Port of Amsterdam, will be reconstructed early next year. The new lock will be 70 m wide, 500 m long and 18 m deep and will be active by the end of 2019.
Consortium OpenIJ, consisting of BAM-PGGM and Volker Wessels-DIF, will be responsible for the design, construction, financing and maintenance of the new lock over a period of 26 years.
Van Oord and Boskalis will carry out the dredging and dry earth works. This will entail removing part of the Zuidersluis Island, dredging the new entrance channels (both sea-side and the North Sea Canal-side), dredging the new lock chamber and installing new bed protection. Together they will also be responsible for the maintenance of the channels for a 26-year period.
