Weirs and locks
The very first Witteveen+Bos project was to design the Prince Bernard locks in Deventer, the Netherlands, in 1946. Meanwhile, our project portfolio boasts a long history, and we have designed a multitude of hydraulic engineering structures, including locks, bridges, immersed tunnels, weirs and pumping stations internationally.
Hydraulic engineering works are eminently multidisciplinary in nature. Our clients can turn to us for full-service advice: from the very first ideas in an initiative phase or a feasibility study to the construction and operational phase of the structures. The areas of expertise we draw from include structural engineering, hydraulic engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial automation and electrical engineering, asset management, hydrodynamics of filling and emptying systems and many other disciplines.
From our independent position, we can advise both public and private clients and knowledge institutes regarding challenges in the replacement and renovation programme (VenR) of hydraulic engineering structures on climate change adaptation, life-extending maintenance, renovation or replacement.
Among our consultancy assignments, we can count iconic projects such as the renovation and expansion of the monumental sluice gates in the Afsluitdijk (Netherlands) and an economic and technical feasibility study for a canal with locks and dams to allow ships to cross the Itaipu Dam in South America. Smaller, complex tasks are also part of our work, such as building an additional culvert at and restoring the historic lock complex at Halfweg (Netherlands).
The structural hydraulic engineers of Witteveen+Bos offer specialised advice in niche areas such as ice loads, fluid-structure interaction under dynamic loads (earthquakes), structural dynamics (such as railway vibrations) and structural health monitoring of bridges.