After a lifetime of almost 100 years, the Northern lock in IJmuiden needs replacement.
Rijkswaterstaat (the Dutch Highways and Waterways Agency) intends to award the construction of the new IJmuiden sea lock, which is located at the entrance to the North Sea Canal, to the Consortium OpenIJ.
After contract close, this consortium, consisting of BAM, Volker Wessels and DIF, will be responsible for design, construction, financing and maintenance of the new lock for a period of 26 years.
A new, larger lock system will improve the accessibility of the port of Amsterdam and stimulate the local economy by offering space to the growing ships independent of the tidal levels.
The new lock will be 70 meters wide, 500 meters long and 18 meters deep. Construction will start early 2016 and the new lock will be available for shipping at the end of 2019.
Dredging activities will be carried out by subcontractors Boskalis and Van Oord.
Rijkswaterstaat, the Province of North Holland, the City of Amsterdam and Port of Amsterdam NV work together in the realization of this new large sea lock at IJmuiden. The Municipality of Velsen is involved as legal adviser with regard to planning procedures.
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