The new construction of the lock in Otterndorf in the district of Cuxhaven is currently the largest coastal protection project in Lower Saxony with an investment sum of around 30 million euros. The completion of the new Hadelner canal lock is scheduled for 2022.
The Otterndorfer lock was built in 1854 as a tunnel vault with a pair of caulking gates into the dike line. After numerous dikes have already been raised due to the continuously rising water levels in the North Sea, this must now be done in the Otterndorf area. The 165-year-old building is around 90 centimetres too low to withstand extreme storm surges and cannot be raised any further due to its design.
On April 11, 2019, the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Hadelner Canal Lock in Otterndorf took place on the occasion of the start of construction work. In addition to Lower Saxony's Minister for the Environment, Energy, Building and Climate Protection, Olaf Lies, who officially gave the go-ahead for this major project, all those directly involved in the measure as well as numerous representatives of the city of Otterndorf were present. Afterwards all present gathered for an informative exchange of ideas and a snack in the sailing hall.
Heiko Scholz – Magdeburg