Maastunnel

The Maas Tunnel is a road tunnel which connects the two banks of the Nieuwe Maas, one of the main arm of the Rhine- Meuse delta underpasses in Rotterdam.

Including the entrances of the tunnel is 1070 meters long, the closed part alone 550 meters. In addition to pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists use the 1937-1942 built tunnel about 75,000 cars daily. ( Architects: JP van der Bruggen, AJ van der Steur )

History

Although residents and city planners Rotterdam were generally agreed prior to construction that a new solid Meuse crossing would be needed to cope with the increasing traffic in the city, went to the construction of the Maas tunnel ahead of fierce debate. Was controversial primarily whether this crossing should be performed as a bridge or a tunnel.

Finally, the community opted for a tunnel, as would a bridge over 60 meters height needed so as not to obstruct the ship traffic in the port of Rotterdam and become even more expensive so would be considered a tunnel. So they decided to build the first car tunnel in the Netherlands.

Even during the occupation of Rotterdam by the Wehrmacht, the construction continued. The German government wanted the opening as a great spectacle stage, although the population two years after the bombing of the city was not then. The opening disavowed the two boys Joop Otte and Cor Wigman. When the officials were ready to open the tunnel, the two appeared from the tunnel on their bikes. They had sneaked on the other side of the river in the tunnel and has crossed him.

1944, the city decided to make the tunnel for the use of trolley buses to drive, moved to lines, but were never used. Towards the end of World War II provided the Wehrmacht lines with explosives to blow up the tunnel, but this did not occur, probably because the Dutch resistance had defused the explosives before.

Construction

The tunnel was built by the Absenkmethode, because due to the geographical conditions of Rotterdam, it was not possible to build the tunnel in a pre- built mine since each pit would fill up within hours with groundwater. In the method of individual tunnel segments were prepared in a dry dock, brought to their later place and there sunk in the ground. A method, which was then applied to several other tunnels in the Netherlands. A segment is 60 meters long, nine meters high and 25 meters wide. Overall, are there under the Maas four of these tubes: two for motor traffic and two by escalators achievable for cyclists and pedestrians. In one of the ventilation building a building is to monitor air quality.

The deepest point of the tunnel is about 20 feet below sea level. Above ground you can see the progress of the tunnel at the two ventilation buildings on the banks of the Nieuwe Maas.