Mittelland Canal Extension

Objective

As part of the TEN-T Orient/East-Med (OEM) Core Network Corridor, the stated aim of upgrading and extending the Mittelland Canal is to eliminate major bottlenecks, optimize multimodal logistics, and create a seamless, high-capacity connection between Central European economic hubs and major maritime ports

Description

The extension and major upgrade of the Mittelland Canal (including the removal of bottlenecks around Magdeburg and new locks). The German Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) spent roughly €800 million modernizing and deepening stretches, as well as elevating bridges to accommodate two-stack container ships. The Mittelland Canal connects the Dortmund-Ems Canal to the Elbe-Havel Canal,

History

Construction of the Mittelland Canal was started in 1906, starting from Bergeshövede (municipality Hörstel) on the Dortmund-Ems Canal. The section to Minden on the Weser was opened in February 1915 and was initially named Ems-Weser-Kanal.

Finance