By lyndamyer
In order to providing the detailed design of the 775 million euro Weser immersed tube tunnel and the cut and cover structures, EDR GmbH and Rendel Limited, both part of the Ingérop Group, have been appointed as the permanent works designer for Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau AG (W&F). Delivery of this challenging and prestigious project in Bremen, Germany, is due to be up to EDR/Rendel in collaboration with W&F and their project partners Strutkon andVan Oord.
Linking the A 1 and A27 federal highways, the Weser Tunnel with 1.7km length will be constructed along the four-lane A 281 Autobahn. The immersed tube crossing will help relieve traffic pressures on both these highways across north-west Germany and, in particular, the urban areas around Bremen.
The responsibility of design and construction of the traffic facilities and engineering structures for section 4 of the A281 freeway (BA 4) between the Seehausen and Gröpelingen junctions is up to DEGES Deutsche Einheit Fernstraßenplanungs- und -bau GmbH (DEGES) on behalf of Autobahn GmbH des Bundes.
The construction phase will close the gap between the existing BA 1 in the north at the junction with the roads Auf den Delben, Beim Industriehafen, Hüttenstraße and BA 3/2 in the south with the planned Bremen-Seehausen junction.
While as an immersed tube tunnel (ITT), The Weser includes six elements with average length of 125m, is going to be an essential component of the BA 4, the six tunnel elements will be built in a dry dock in Bremerhaven and transported across the Weser River to Bremen. The tunnel elements will then be immersed in a water depth of 25 m and secured in place by sand flow and permanent locking fill.
Being commenced in August 2023, the project is expected to last five years.
