In January 2024, the spillway at Bosscherveld collapsed. This caused a houseboat to become unanchored and crash into a bridge. What started out as an urgent request to unload a truckload of stones turned into a large-scale emergency operation involving the Ministry of Defense and the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management. In no time at all, an emergency dam was built using 4,700 tonnes of riprap, to prevent further damage in Maastricht due to the risk of the Meuse river between Belgium and Borgharen emptying.
Immediate action in a crisis situation
On 3 January, Mourik received a phone call and a seemingly relatively straightforward question. On site, however, it soon became clear that the situation was serious: a quarter of the spillway had already been washed away. ‘A lorry load of stones was not sufficient to solve this,’ says Roel van Oudheusden, the director in charge of Integral Replacement & Renovation Works. ‘The damage was increasing rapidly and it was vital that we responded quickly.’
Mourik has experience with previous calamities for which emergency dams were built, such as the Linne dam calamity in 2020 and the Roermond dam calamity in 2023. ‘In a matter of hours, we found ourselves in a meeting with Rijkswaterstaat (the ministry of infrastructure and water management). While we started working on the design and mobilization, Rijkswaterstaat called in the Ministry of Defense,’ Roel explains ‘By the end of the day, everyone was ready to go, during a holiday even.’
Originally, the plan was to build the dam from a work ship, but the current proved too strong. The approach was immediately adapted: in addition to the work ship, five dumpers, four hydraulic excavators and a shovel were deployed to work from the banks. The Ministry of Defense also provided support with pontoons and Chinook helicopters.
Construction began on 6 January and the dam breach was closed two days later. ‘The speed with which the project was launched was exceptional,’ says Roel. ‘We all worked with one goal in mind: to build a safe and effective solution as quickly as possible.’
Safe solution under time pressure
The emergency dam maintains the water level in the Maas River. Mourik then built a temporary spillway dam with another 11,000 tonnes of rubble, as a replacement for the damaged spillway so the damaged dam could be rebuilt.
After completion of the temporary spillway, the emergency dam was immediately removed.
Due to the nature and urgency of the project, several parties were involved, such as Rijkswaterstaat, the Ministry of Defense, the fire department, the municipality and Paans van Oord. ‘Each stakeholder has a different interest’, Roel says. ‘Our job is to realize a sustainable solution under great time pressure, without compromising on safety.’
What is he most proud of? ‘The unprecedented commitment of all the parties involved. Nobody needed convincing, everyone was happy to step up to the plate, even during the Christmas holidays. Despite the changing circumstances, we kept adapting to the situation, working in a risk-oriented manner and above all, working together.’
‘Each stakeholder has a different interest. Our job is to realize a sustainable solution under great time pressure, without compromising on safety.’
