Reinforcing Rijnkade Arnhem

Electric construction equipment

Nearly all of the construction equipment we used on the construction site is electrically powered, which means it has no combustion engine and therefore no harmful emissions such as CO₂, nitrogen, and particulate matter. Emissions have also been reduced in the supply and removal logistics. For example, the grab truck that transported materials from the land hub to the quay was electrically powered, water transport was used extensively, and biofuels were used for the remaining freight. This resulted in lower CO₂ emissions, less vibration nuisance, and less noise pollution. By 2024, this project will have achieved savings of 1.4 million kilograms of CO₂ equivalent, which is equivalent to 203 trips around the earth in a passenger car.

Urban challenges

Because we were working in the middle of the city, we faced additional challenges in terms of safety and accessibility. That is why we tackled the low quay and retaining wall first. Then we moved on to the high quay, which we did in small sections. This minimized the inconvenience to local residents.

Transport by water

We transported almost all the concrete by water from our water hub. This saved a lot of transport movements through the city center of Arnhem. We also had a land hub, which supplied items such as manhole covers, sewer pipes, and paving stones. We always left this land hub with a full truck, so that we had to drive back and forth as little as possible.

Prefab concrete work

The prefab concrete work could be assembled directly from the water on the quay. This meant we hardly had to pour any concrete on site. As a result, we were able to complete the project faster and cleaner. The reuse of existing materials also played a major role. For example, we reused the stones, the basalt cladding of the current barrier, and approximately 5,500 cubic meters of sand.

Reopening of Sint Jansbeek

A special moment during the work was the reopening of the Sint Jansbeek. Whereas the water used to be drained away by a pump, it now flows naturally from the city center into the Rhine. This is now possible thanks to a new outlet basin, integrated into the quay and equipped with a lockable door. For the neighborhood, this is a visible result of the work we carried out here.

Phases and planning

The initial work was concentrated into two weekends, during which we worked non-stop for 57 hours on the new sheet piling and anchoring at Roermondsplein. Thanks to tight planning, the asphalt remained intact and the road was reopened to traffic on Monday morning.