Successful coordination of great importance in Area Development Ooijen-Wanssum

After major floods of the Meuse in Limburg (1993 and 1995), in which the economic damage was enormous, temporary measures were taken. But now combination Mooder Maas, consisting of Dura Vermeer and Ploegam, has started the Area Development Ooijen-Wanssum. The extensive project includes the construction of new dikes and a high-water channel, the restoration of the Old Meuse arm and the construction of a new bypass including engineering structures.

Engineering firm SGS Roos+Bijl has been engaged to coordinate all cable and pipeline work within this project. David de Jong, project coordinator at SGS Roos+Bijl explains, "Large infrastructure projects like this are complex in nature. There are many different stakeholders in the area: network operators, but also the water board, Rijkswaterstaat, province and the municipalities in which we are working. We are an important link in the connection between all parties. Because of our approach, you notice that everyone takes a constructive approach and works together. We know how to realize solutions to the satisfaction of all stakeholders within a short period of time. That is a great compliment for all parties involved."

Invasive diversion
"The village of Wanssum is split by a tributary of the Meuse River. The bridge, the connection between the two village centers, is being renewed and that necessitated a major relocation. By talking to all parties at an early stage, we were able to realize the relocation of all disciplines of cables and pipes through a single large trench. An enormous saving when you look at the social costs."

Relocation of all disciplines of cables and pipes through one large trench.

Many additional preconditions
Time is a limiting factor. The closed levee season means that less work can be done between October and April due to high water. There are also ecological and archaeological environmental factors that must be taken into account. Add to that the extensive permitting process and this creates a complex playing field, within which shifts must be made in time so that the project is not delayed. 

Integral and flexible
"We thought integrally about how to take sustainability and limiting social costs into account. By asking for and giving some flexibility here and there, we were able to create a beautiful project. With this final solution, where no less than 18 kilometers of dike will be constructed or reinforced in this area, the area will be protected from flooding for the next 250 years."