Roubaix - The Roubaix Canal

The Roubaix Canal Dredging Scheme between the Belgian-French border and the River Deule has been carried out as part of the European Union funded 'Blue Links' project.

Some 160.000m³ has been dredged on both the Roubaix Canal and the River Marque.  Included in the contract was the construction of a dewatering area,  devided into three separate catchment areas on top of the waste mountains, in the past created by the local gypsum industry at Wattrelos.

The bottom layer of the bassins consisted of bentonite matting and drainage material.  The effluent was discharged through this drainage system.

Additionally a 1.200m² consolidation area was created to catch the effluent originating from the dewatering areas.  Analysing and disposal of this water has been conducted in accordance with French environmental legislation.

Included as well was the construction of two quay walls to provide for truckloading of the dredged material.

Dredging was carried out using two small backhoe dredgers and a fleet of small barges.  An average daily output was realised of 450-1.000m³.

Subsequently another 20.000m³ capacity silt area has been created adjacent to the E17 Motorway embankment.  Its 40.000m² surface has been waterproofed entirely with a MRC-membrane as well as an external drainage system to allow analysed water to drain back into the canal.

Finally The locally known PCUK-site was used to dewater approx. 130.000m³ of silt with a reduced water percentage of 30%.