BRABANT FIGHTS AGAINST WATER

                Volkerakdam and Hellegatsplein

In the same period that that they were working on the Grevelingsdam. Hydraulic engineers are a few kilometers father up working on a other project. With full power they are working on the closing of the Volkerak and the construction of better road and bridges. Rijkswaterstaat is doing this because for the totally water balance. The advantage are a better carry off of ice during the winter. there is also a improvement of the traffic situation on the destination. This are the most important arguments to build this dam. the activities on the Volkerakdam and Hellegatsplein are ready in 1969. Now in the year 2000 the connection on the border of  Hollands Diep and Haringvliet are very important for the traffic between Noord-Brabant and randstad Holland.

The realize of the dam over the Hellegatsplaten to Goeree-Overflakkee, over a distance of 4,5 kilometer , is going well. the work is going fast because there wasn't a tide. In June 1958 specialists companies with the drain off millions kilo's of sand . There is only a small gully left [ The Ventjagersgat ] but the gully is also closed in February 1959.   

In begin 1959 the bridge over the Haringvliet finished. after working very hard for year against the elements there is finally a fast connect between the province of Zuid-Holland and Goeree-Overflakkee. To make the bridge cost efficient and for the upkeep they will ask toll for the first 10 years. After the 10 year the government will take over the bridge and the necessary keep up.    

The Volkeak, is a very busy navigate river in Holland with ask for a very special approach for the building of a bridge. Because it was a part of the Schelde-Rijn channel, Belgium is also involved with the management. During the building the shipping must have no impediment, so they build locks for the ships with a very high demand. They build totally 3 locks  with a length of 320 meters and a breadth of 24 meters.

The building of the locks starts in July 1960. they cost 2,5 million guilder. In 1965 the bridge and the locks are ready.

The vokerak lock.

After that they build the dam in the Vokerak. This dam will be closed with trough caissons, with they did before by the  Veerse gat. 

And in 1969 is it so far.........the Vokerak is ready!!!

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