5.1 Billion Euro Channel from France to Germany

Northwestern Europe, with its proximity to the Atlantic and large rivers flowing into the sea to the continent’s busiest ports is hosting. Every year, hundreds of millions of tons of imports are taken from these ports and distributed all over the continent.

However, for this distribution to be efficient, rivers must be need to be connected together. This is where France’s new canal project comes into play.

The two important canals of northern France, the Canal du Nord and the Canal de Saint-Quentin, have been of great importance throughout history.

The Canal de Saint-Quentin was opened in 1810 and allows boats with a maximum width of 5 meters. Canal du Nord was started to be built in 1908, but Due to World War I had suffered great damage. This canal, completed in 1965, can also support boats up to 5 meters wide.

Which will replace these two old channels Canal Seine-Nord, It was designed to meet the needs of the 21st century. The canal, which will be 107 kilometers long and 54 meters wide, will connect the Oise River with the Dunkirk-Schedt Canal. Boats with a capacity of 4,400 tons will be able to move easily in this channel.

The new channel will provide major environmental and economic benefits.

The canal, which is expected to carry 15 to 18 million tons of cargo annually, will create five times more river traffic by 2060. However, by replacing truck transportation, annual 50 million tons of CO2 emissions It will prevent.

Canal du Seine-Nord, along the Canal du Nord in the Hauts-de-France region It will extend 107 kilometers. The channel will be 54 meters wide and 4.5 meters deep.

200 meters long and will include six locks 12.5 meters wide. These locks will allow the passage of boats 185 meters long and 11.5 meters wide.

A 1.3 kilometer long and 30 meter high canal bridge will be built to cross the Somme River Valley. This bridge wetlands and natural flows of the region will protect. Additionally, 62 road and railway bridges will cross the canal.

The channel will take important steps in terms of environmental and social sustainability.

For every tree cut down during construction, three trees will be planted and A total of 850,000 new trees will be planted. 45 wildlife crossing points and 25 kilometers of lagoon shores will be built. 200 kilometers of walking paths and 20 fishing piers will be created along the canal.

After funding approval in 2019, the project began to progress rapidly. The first environmental permits were obtained in 2021 and preliminary studies began in 2022. Construction will start in 2025 and It is planned to be completed in 2030.

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