Waterway Investments in France
Update on waterway investments in France
L’Antenne reports in November 2020 about the status of major waterway upgrades in France. In partcul;ar it mentions the lack of progress concerning the Saône-Rhine link. Instead there has been progress on the Seine-Nord and Mageo (Mise au gabarit européen de l’Oise) projects with the upgrading of the Oise to European standards. But the situation is less promising for the upgrading of the Bray-Nogent-sur-Seine link, to accept vessels of 2,500 tonnes capacity, the work of which is again delayed for the period 2024-2027. As for the large gauge link on the Saône-Rhine axis, no concrete progress has been seen this year.
Read article in www.lantenne.com
Earlier, LÁntenne reported that works are continuing on the Condé-Pommerœul canal: started in 2018, with ecological improvements, operations will accelerate with major dredging undertaken at the end of September 2020. This 11 km canal links Condé-sur-l’Escaut ( North) to the Belgian town of Pommerœul (Wallonia). It was closed in 1992, forcing boats sailing between Valenciennes and the Canal du Center to a detour of more than 12 hours. The accumulation of sediment was one of the causes of the closure of the canal. Dredging by VNF will remove 1.75 million cubic meters. Worth 80 million euros, the work also involves increasing the size of the boats that can take the Condé-Pommerœul link to 3,000 tonnes. The reopening of the canal will coincide with the expected development of river transport in the Scheldt valley with the commissioning of the Seine-Nord canal, the French part of the Seine-Scheldt link. By 2030, VNF forecasts traffic of 6.5 Mt on the Condé-Pommerœul canal. Boats continuing their journey beyond Seine-Nord towards the Flemish ports and the North Sea will have the choice between two routes: either the Dunkirk-Escaut canal, then the Lys (via Lille), or the Escaut (via Valenciennes and Tournai). Those heading to Liège, Namur or Charleroi will find a shorter route with Condé-Pommerœul to the Canal du Center. The reopening of the canal to navigation is scheduled for the end of 2022.