The Port of Amsterdam informed that it cannot open up the route via the IJmuiden lock complex for traffic in April 2019. This is because the safety on the lock route can still not be sufficiently guaranteed due to the many construction activities at the new sealock. It is not known when the route will open again.
At first, the route was to be closed for about a year. However, because of additional work in the lock chamber and the connection between the new sealock and the middle lock, there are still many differences in height on the construction site and a lot of crossing construction traffic.
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What is more, the work to bring the roads around the new sea lock at water-retaining height takes considerably more time. Thus, a safe opening of the locks route from April 2019 is not possible. This will not affect the delivery date of the new sea lock at the beginning of 2022.
Rijkswaterstaat regrets that due to the extension of the closure, the nuisance for the residents of the municipality of Velsen will take longer. Rijkswaterstaat is currently assessing the progress of the construction in relation to a safe opening of the route for through traffic. In addition, the possibilities are being mapped out to further limit the nuisance for users of the lock route
The Port of Amsterdam commented.
In order to establish space for bigger seagoing vessels, IJmuiden has been working from 2016 on the construction of the largest sea lock in the world. The new lock will be 500 meters long, 70 meters wide and 18 meters deep.
The project is a joint venture between the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the province of Noord-Holland, the municipality of Amsterdam, Port of Amsterdam and the municipality of Velsen.
OpenIJ is building the new sea lock on behalf of Rijkswaterstaat. The lock is expected to start operations at the beginning of 2022.
