Amsterdam people are working hard on construction of a new underground connection: the North/South line, that will pass under the river IJ.

Necessity of new metro line

A lot of people live and work in Amsterdam. And many tourists visit the city. The current above ground bus and tram network can no longer keep up with demand for transport of the one million travellers a day. The municipality of Amsterdam has therefore decided to construct an additional underground to increase the accessibility of the city centre. It will also create a rapid connection between Amsterdam-North, the city centre and Amsterdam-South and ensure a pleasant way to travel in the future. The North/South line fits in the policy of the state, the region and the municipality of Amsterdam to offer an alternative to the steadily growing car traffic.

Work in progress by the IJ

The North/South line also pass under the river IJ. The IJ is a very busy and important main waterway that sees many tens of thousands of ships pass every year. In the city centre of Amsterdam the line is being constructed with a drilling technique, but near the IJ, the tunnel will be constructed by means of the submerged caissons laid in a trench on the bottom. The four caissons are being built in a dock along the Sixhaven in Amsterdam-North. Because there is only room for two of the tunnel elements in the building dock, they will be ‘parked’ in the Amsterdam port area around 2006. When all elements are ready in 2008, they will be shipped across the IJ and subsequently sunk one by one.

Role Port of Amsterdam

This operation requires many years’ preparation whereby Port of Amsterdam closely co-operates as shipping manager with the client and contractor of this job.

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