Client:
Schluchseewerk AG
Construction period:
2021
City/Country:
Wehr, Germany
Contract value:
€ 3 million
Rehabilitation of Wehra Asphalt Concrete Reservoir
Germany
Renewal of the asphalt sealing system of a hydropower reservoir
Even the most robust structures are affected by the passage of time and constant exposure to water. At the Wehra Dam, the focus of the project was therefore the rehabilitation of the upstream sealing. The aim was to sustainably restore the ageing and damaged asphalt concrete lining and enhance it with an additional controlled sealing and drainage layer.
The 260-metre-long dam, featuring a crown path approximately 5,3 metres wide, plays a key role in the operation of the dam. Across a slope area of around 15.500 square metres, the existing sealing system was upgraded and connected to the adjacent concrete structures. The work began with the milling-off of the upper asphalt sealing, followed by the installation of a new 10-centimetre-thick asphalt drainage layer and an 8-centimetre asphalt sealing.
In addition to the hydraulic asphalt works, the project included sediment removal within the reservoir, concrete renovation and anti-corrosion protection measures. One of the major challenges was the steep embankment slope of around 30 °. Further complexities arose from the safe removal of asbestos within the existing sealing layer and the need to retain water on the slope throughout the construction process.
The project involved the removal of 400 tonnes of asphalt, as well as the installation of 3.700 tonnes of asphalt binder course and 3.000 tonnes of asphalt. Despite these demanding conditions, the new asphalt sealing system was successfully implemented while significantly improving the dam with a storage capacity of 4,3 million cubic metres.
Scope of Work
- Rehabilitation of the Wehra Dam asphalt sealing
- Additional sealing and drainage layer
- 15.500 m² surface milling
- Installation of new asphalt sealing
- Asbestos, concrete and corrosion protection works
