A consortium comprising Züblin, a Strabag Group company, and Bauer Spezialtiefbau has been appointed to undertake the replacement of the Erlangen lock on the Main–Danube Canal.
The consortium will deliver the contract, valued at approximately €380m ($441m), on behalf of Waterways Construction Office Aschaffenburg.
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Opened in the early 1970s, the current Erlangen lock cannot be refurbished due to its structural condition, prompting the decision to construct a replacement.
The new lock will be located approximately 300m north of the existing structure and will use solid concrete, with particular attention to minimising structural joints to extend its operational life.
According to Strabag, the replacement chamber will measure 12.5m in width, an increase of half a metre, and have a total length of 190m.
The project entails constructing a complete lock facility along the Main–Danube Canal, including an approach structure, upper head, lock chamber, outlet section, laterally positioned water-saving basins, and a bypass channel for water management.
The bypass will allow water to flow parallel to the lock, and the water-saving basins are designed to ensure roughly 60% water reuse in every lock operation.
Construction will proceed while maintaining full operation of the Main–Danube Canal throughout the works, which are expected to continue until 2033.
Only upon completion of the new lock will the existing facility be decommissioned to ensure uninterrupted transport along this waterway.
Strabag management board member responsible for the North + West segment, Jörg Rösler said: “Winning another major waterways project reinforces our strong position in this strategically important infrastructure sector.
“The replacement new build of the Erlangen lock is not only a significant project for the region but also an important contribution to the sustainable modernisation of Europe’s waterways.”
This project represents the consortium’s second contract for lock construction in the region, with ongoing work at the Kriegenbrunn lock, just a few kilometres away, having commenced in 2024.
