Experts from Tractebel Hydroprojekt are overseeing the renovation of a 90-year-old weir near Heilbronn in Germany.
The Horkheim weir regulates the water level in order to keep the Neckar river navigable for shipping. The complex was built between 1927 and 1929 and is a listed building. The supporting structure consists of only slightly reinforced concrete pillars. At the core, these are made of low-strength rammed concrete, surrounded by a concrete shell with higher strength. But this has cracked over the decades. Rain and river water have penetrated into the interior of the pillar and weakened the structure.
The four existing weir pillars will now be reinforced while operations continue, with the concrete tol be refurbished. The weir locks and drives will be renewed, as well as the electrical and control technology, which will be housed in a new building.
Engineers from Tractebel started work in the summer of 2021 and the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
