Reconstruction Storm Surge Protection Wall, Müggenburger Hauptdeich

new storm surge protection wall with siding crossover Client: Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Construction Costs: approx. 5 mill. € Services: Conceptual planning, pre- and detailed engineering design, tendering Period: 1988 - 1999 Cooperation: none

The frequency and the level of storm surges in the North Sea and in the Elbe River increased during the last decades. Due to deepening of the Elbe River and as result of sea level rise the former level of flood protection for Hamburg City has been raised to provide same protection level. Subsequently all structures need to be raised. A program is being implemented over a decade to complete such measures along the almost 100 km long storm surge protection line of Hamburg.

The design height of protection structures have to consider

• the expected design water level considering actual condition as measured recently
• expected sea level rise of 0.30 m for the next century
• a provision of 0.80 m as safety margin
• wave conditions along the dikes and sea walls
• settlement of structure.

The Müggenburger Hauptdeich has to be raised over a length of 1,700 m. Sellhorn analysed the existing structure and concluded that a simple enhancement is not feasible.
Due to economic consideration the existing structure has been incorporated into the new flood protection wall.

The design considered a railway and several public supply and disposal lines crossings.