Budimex continues to build a dry reservoir in Kutřín in the Chrudim region of the Czech Republic. The Krounka River has been redirected from a temporary bypass to a newly prepared riverbed, which runs through the dam structure in the place of its former course. At the same time, works are being carried out on the reconstruction of the existing bridge, the foundations of the dam, as well as the construction of bottom drains and a safety spillway. The completion of the investment is scheduled for 2027.
The construction of the dry flood reservoir in Kutrín is proceeding according to schedule. Budimex has recently redirected the flow of the Krounka River from a temporary bypass to a newly built migration passage in the concrete structure of the dam. ” About forty people are currently working on the construction site. We are continuing earthworks in the bedrock under the remaining sections of the dam extension in order to be able to complete the outstanding works on the injection screen in the near future ,” said Petr Závadský, construction manager at Budimex.
The reconstruction of the existing road bridge is also underway. In June, the construction company built a temporary bridge, which allowed the work to continue without the need to completely close the local road. Thanks to this, despite the increase in costs, the state-owned company Povodí Labe met the needs of the residents and protected drivers from a 35-kilometer detour.
” Shuttle traffic will be maintained in this place at least until the end of the year. Only parts of the current abutments have been preserved from the old bridge, on which a new load-bearing structure and road layers are being built ,” explains Krzysztof Tomczuk, project manager at Budimex.
After the completion of construction, the reservoir will have a retention capacity of 3.6 million m³. At maximum filling, the area of the reservoir will cover 67.5 hectares, which is an area equivalent to about a hundred football fields. ” The dry reservoir in Kutřín on the Krounka River will be a key element of flood protection in the Novohradka River catchment, of which the Krounka is an important tributary. The reservoir will allow the flood wave to transform and stop the culmination of the Krounka flows until the wave on Novohradka subsides,” says Marián Šebesta, CEO of the state-owned company Povodí Labe. ” After the preparation stage, we are pleased that the construction is progressing so smoothly ,” he adds.
Unique Firewall Type
A dam with a length of 133.6 meters, a maximum height of 17.8 meters above ground level and a width of 5.67 meters will be built on the current construction site. The Krounka River will flow through it through a special passage, which will also enable the migration of aquatic organisms and land animals.
” This concrete dam is unique in its construction because it is a composite structure made of several types of concrete. The vent part of the dam is made of reinforced concrete, while the weighting massif is made of rolled concrete – explains Adam Barszczyński, Regional Director at Budimex and adds: – The visible elements of concrete structures are not made as smooth surfaces; instead, special matrices are placed in the formwork, which create a texture imitating the surrounding rock environment.
Completion in 2027
The construction of the dry reservoir began four years ago. However, due to the rising costs of materials and the need to change the technical solutions of the project, Povodí Labe agreed with the original contractor to terminate the contract. Budimex employees started work on the investment worth over half a billion CZK at the beginning of last year. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2027.
Budimex has extensive experience in the implementation of hydrotechnical projects. In 2020, it completed the construction of the Racibórz Dolny polder near the border with the Czech Republic, the largest flood protection facility on the Oder River. Four years ago, it also completed the expansion of the largest flotation waste reservoir in Europe, Żelazny Most, and was also responsible for the implementation of flood protection on the Nysa Kłodzka River.
The construction of the flood reservoir in Kutrín is one of two contracts that the largest Polish construction company has won on the Czech market since entering this market. Budimex is also responsible for the construction of the nearby section of the D35 motorway between Džbánov and Litomyšl. In addition to road and hydrotechnical projects, the company is also interested in railway investments.
