Oostdam '2.0' makes canal around Woerden navigable

For over 90 years Aannemingsbedrijf Gebr. Schouls BV is specialized in the realization, replacement and renovation of bridges, pumping stations, (monumental) quay walls, culverts and sewage works. In the municipality of Woerden, many of these disciplines come together in the reconstruction of the Oostdam, a project which is executed in a construction team with the municipality of Woerden. An interview with project manager Martin Dijkstra about this high-profile project that is being completed in the year Woerden celebrates 650 years of city rights. It could hardly be more festive.

There was a culvert construction in the existing Oostdam in Woerden that needed to be replaced. The municipality then took this as an opportunity to make the entire canal around Woerden navigable. After all, the Oostdam was the last bottleneck. Also, the area around the Oostdam was further developed into a residential and recreational area with a beautiful new quay wall. An intervention which would have quite some consequences especially for the accessibility of the city center. Reason for Gebr. Schouls BV to realize the passage and new culvert bridge in two phases in order to minimize the inconvenience for the traffic. 

Historic quay wall

Before construction began in November 2020, Gebr. Schouls BV had been in discussions with the Woerden municipality and utility companies for over a year and a half. "Initially it even seemed almost impossible to build there, given the many cables and pipes in the underground and the fact that there was no room to drill and we had to excavate to a depth of about four meters," Dijkstra knows. "But in good consultation with the network operators and the municipality of Woerden, we succeeded in diverting the cables and pipes by means of sinker trenches at the site of the new bridge using temporary steel sheet pile walls. We were then able to start the construction work. One of the challenges was to make a controlled and safe passage in the old historic quay wall with fairly sturdy masonry, but you can leave that too to us," laughs Dijkstra. "Just like realizing the new quay wall of over 100 meters. The quay wall consists of a steel sheet pile wall with prefabricated concrete hanging aprons produced by ourselves, which will be bricked in for an authentic look."

All in all, a great project for Gebr. Schouls that is getting a lot of attention. "The great thing is that we can carry out such a project (almost) entirely with our own people and equipment. Surely we are proud of that. It really is a calling card for us." And so will soon be the new office building with large precast concrete and steel workshop in Koudekerk aan de Rijn. "With pain in our hearts we are leaving Leiden, but the new location offers many more opportunities for the future. In Leiden we could not expand further due to developments around us. Of course we will keep the link with Leiden through an annex and we will remain active here. We have a framework contract with the municipality of Leiden for emergency and sewerage work, as well as with the Delfland Water Board for the replacement and renovation of polder pumping stations. We are pleased to be able to participate as a contractor in such long-term framework contracts," concludes Dijkstra.