Construction of drainage system for Rhine waterfront in Cologne
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The city of Cologne has embarked on a significant construction project, replacing the old cantilever plate on the Rhine promenade. The new construction, which stretches north from the Deutzer Bridge over 235 meters towards the Hohenzollern Bridge and Cologne Cathedral, is set to be completed before the UEFA European Football Championship 2024, with the Rhine bank serving as an additional public viewing area.
The project, which began in November 2022, required the demolition of the old cantilever plate, the concreting of foundation blocks, and the installation of a total of 85 prefabricated parts. To ensure safe and rapid surface water removal, the city turned to the expertise of Gutjahr and Sievert, who developed a joint solution using the AquaDrain HB drainage system.
About 2500 m2 of the surface had to be newly paved, and the AquaDrain HB system was chosen for the project. This system, designed for high-load-bearing surfaces, accommodates drainage mortar for the production of a high-load-bearing surface. In combination with drainage mortar, a surface drainage system with high water drainage capacity is produced, suitable for traffic.
The AquaDrain HB system allows loading for usage categories up to N3 according to the ZTV-Wegebau regulations and in the load class Bk0.3 according to the RStO 12 guidelines, making it suitable for heavy-duty traffic. Stephan Brings, an expert from Gutjahr, explained that the AquaDrain HB system is designed to ensure up to 30 times higher drainage performance than gravel and crushed stone alone.
The old cantilever plate was at risk of stress corrosion cracking due to high usage, prompting the city to replace it with a new construction in 2019. To find a solution for the previously missing drainage on the surface, the city was advised by the firm Sievert, the manufacturer of tubag mortar products.
In 2022, the city of Cologne was also advised by the company Geiger Engineers for the reconstruction of the Cologne Cantilever Plate. However, the drainage system chosen for the project was not the Geiger trench drain system but the AquaDrain HB from Gutjahr.
To facilitate the construction process, a workshop was anchored on the Rhine bank to transport sawn concrete slabs and other construction waste across the river. This workshop ensured a smooth and efficient construction process, allowing the project to be completed on schedule.
With the new Cologne Cantilever Plate, the city is not only providing a safe and functional public viewing area for the UEFA European Football Championship 2024 but also investing in a long-lasting and high-quality infrastructure for its citizens and visitors.
