More than 203 kilometers (km) long, the Neckar River from Mannheim to Plochingen is the only water transportation route in the Rhine basin that cannot be navigated by ships longer than 105 meters (m). Through a total of 27 locks and dams, the Neckar River carries maritime traffic to serve three main trading ports at Heilbronn, Stuttgart and Plochingen.
Federal water route authorities decided to expand the Neckar River to accommodate cargo ships up to 135 m long, awarding five contracts for the planning of maintenance repairs and renewal of the first 10 locks through a public procurement procedure. Under our leadership, the consortium of C G G H Neckarschleusen was awarded one of these contracts. We will complete the technical and commercial tasks for this project, planning lock repairs and upgrading their overall stability.
The Kochendorf and Gundelsheim lock chambers will be repaired using a concrete outer shell, increasing overall stability through the installation of piles and anchors. Furthermore, one chamber from each lock will be extended by 40 m, while all lock gates will be renewed. Adjustments in offshore terminals, additional berths and turning points, and the remediation of about 4 km of the Kochendorf side canal will also be accomplished. During the construction phase from 2012 to 2016, we will be responsible for construction supervision. The public sector alone is investing around €28 million in the repair and expansion of these two locks. Once the project is completed, the Neckar River will be able to meet the requirements of modern transport infrastructure.
