Amsterdam land reclamation works for Boskalis
Netherlands based dredging major Royal Boskalis Westminster has won the €85m contract to construct an artificial island in the IJmeer lake, adjacent to the IJburg islands, by the municipality of Amsterdam.
The project will expedite the development of residential housing to accommodate the further growth of Amsterdam. In the initial phase, some 82 hectares of land will be created by constructing both soft and hard bank protection and filling the reclamation area with nine million cubic metres of sand. Some 3,500 km of vertical drains will be sued to improve the soil. The project includes an option to create an additional 53 hectares of land. This option does not form part of the original contract value.
Operations are expected to commence in the quarter of this year and to be completed in mid-2020. In addition to the artificial island, Boskalis will also create a nature area measuring more than three hectares, consisting of reeds and a mussel bed. Constructing this nature area in the initial phase will enable the natural elements to develop sooner.
By Larz Bourne
