Afsluitdijk project awarded to Levvel Consortium
Rijkswaterstaat (part of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment and responsible for the design, construction, management and maintenance of the main infrastructure facilities in the Netherlands) has awarded the Afsluitdijk project to the Levvel consortium. This joint venture is formed by Van Oord Aberdeen Infrastructure Partners B.V. (46%), BAM PPP PGGM Infrastructure Coöperatie U.A. (46%) and RebelValley B.V. (8%). Levvel will be responsible for design, build, finance and 25 years maintenance of the strengthened Afsluitdijk. Construction works are expected to start in the autumn of 2018. In 2023, works on the Afsluitdijk will be completed. The net present value of the project is approximately EUR 550 million.
Levvel has based its tender on managing risks, using opportunities, sustainability (sustainable construction and energy neutral) and smart use of proven technology. After the Afsluitdijk has been reinforced, it can withstand a storm which happens once in every ten thousand years. At the same time, the drainage capacity, which now consists solely of natural flow, will be expanded with new pumps. Levvel’s discharge solution consumes as little energy as possible: ‘Natural discharge if possible, pumping if necessary.’ This way, in the future, sufficient water can be drained from the IJsselmeer to the Wadden Sea in all weather conditions.
For the construction of the new pumps and the extra discharge capacity, the existing monumental 'Spuisluizen' (drainage locks) in Den Oever remain completely intact and they will be renovated. Levvel strengthens the dyke with innovative concrete elements. The innovative character of the project is also shown in the application of a floodgate of fiber-reinforced plastic in the fish migration river. In addition, the highway A7 will become safer by widening the emergency lanes. The design of Levvel pays attention to recreation and ecology, through construction of a cycle path on the Wadden Sea side along the entire length of the Afsluitdijk, ecological facilities along the dyke and fish-friendly pumps.
"Rijkswaterstaat is looking forward to working with Levvel. Levvel has created a smart and robust design that honors the heritage of Lely (the civil engineer and statesman, who was responsible for turning the former Zuiderzee in the IJsselmeer and for reclaiming a vast area of new land)." stated Michèle Blom, director general of Rijkswaterstaat. " Rijkswaterstaat has assessed Levvel’s tender on the basis of EMVI criteria (Economically Most Advantageous Tender) as 'best value for money'".
