Weir in Roermond operational again after months of repair | 1Limburg

The weir – or the backbone of the Meuse – broke down in January and investigations revealed cracks in a number of yokes. Yokes are steel structures that stand upright in the weir. They keep the bulkheads in the weir in place and are indispensable for water drainage.

Tubular construction
Rijkswaterstaat had to intervene quickly to ensure that the 100-year-old weir would not be completely damaged. The weir was temporarily reinforced with pipes, so that it was possible to weld the yokes under water.

Also read: Cracks discovered in parts of weir at Roermond

Remove bridge
But that was not all: Rijkswaterstaat had to remove the entire bridge that runs over the weir. The bridge is an important part and is used by the weir crane during high water. With the tap, slides in the weir can be removed, so that the water can flow away more quickly. Now that the weir has been fully repaired and all parts of the bridge are back in place, Rijkswaterstaat can use the crane again.

Replace weir
The proper functioning of the weir is necessary for a smooth and safe flow of shipping on the Meuse. That is why Rijkswaterstaat wants to replace the weir at Roermond around 2035. Another major overhaul of the river’s spine is planned in 2023.