Fort, vesting en -onderdelen, de Zilveren Schaats e.o. Utrecht

English translation

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Description

Cluster 301. Sluice / Barrier / (Demolition) Culvert / Bridge.

NEW HOLLAND WATER LINE

Introduction

SLUICE / BARRIER / (DEMOLITION) CULVERT / BRIDGE at the Offerhausweg in the Biltsche Vaart (Biltsche Grift), beneath and along the Waterlinieweg, as a 20th-century hydraulic engineering addition to the existing and modified defence and inundation system of the New Holland Water Line. Controlled inundation required an ingenious system of waterworks, such as sluices, weirs, water channels and canals, by means of which the water level could be rapidly set and maintained within narrow limits. Many water channels and canals and structures were already present at the location and these required at most some adaptation, and in particular widening and/or deepening, or rationalisation or modification of (barrier) function. Other waters and waterworks, however, had to be specially constructed. The sluice / barrier / culvert / bridge beneath and east of the Waterlinieweg south of the Offerhausweg is an addition that arose from the construction of this road along the east side of Utrecht in the late 1930s of the 20th century. The road connected the largely completed motorway from The Hague to Utrecht from the 'Lunetten Junction' with the—at the beginning of the Second World War not yet completed, but already in use—roundabout 'De Berekuil', west of Fort de Bilt. The relationship between this traffic infrastructure work and the waterworks constructed in connection with it was very strong because the embankment on which the road was to be located would become part of the water barrier of the inundation zone to its east. The barrier could be closed to protect the city of Utrecht from water damage when the water level was raised. This relationship is still clearly recognisable. The sluice / culvert / barrier / bridge was also important for regulating the water level in the moat of Fort De Bilt and the structure lies in connection with this slightly south-west of the fort. The work was to be built as a 'navigation culvert' but it could also be permanently closed by means of sand and explosive charges to be placed above the water in the culvert. The work could thus serve as a so-called 'demolition culvert'. It is not known whether the superstructure was ever constructed, but the possible superstructure no longer exists in any case. The two barrier walls / sluice walls at the location were realised and still exist. The relationship with the road constructed a few years before the Second World War gives the object a certain rarity value; the work is still in operational condition. It has related counterparts in the further south located specimens, namely those in the Minstroom and those in the Kromme Rijn. Between the culvert / bridge and the sluice / barrier located east of it, a concrete bridge and a wooden bridge were later constructed in a 'vent road' and a cycle and walking path respectively located there.

Description

SLUICE / BARRIER / (DEMOLITION) CULVERT / BRIDGE in the Biltsche Vaart or Biltsche Grift at the Offerhausweg, beneath and along the Waterlinieweg, consisting of two elements. The largest is a largely reinforced concrete, box-shaped CULVERT / BRIDGE of approximately 25 m length and approximately 6.50 m width. On the south side a walkway with a concrete balustrade / barrier against the high-standing water beside it. The walkway is accessible via concrete stairs. East beside this a double, rectangular span as part of an equally concrete SLUICE / BARRIER, provided with two iron-reinforced (shutter board) sill slots, in which beams or gates could be inserted. The length is approximately 3 m, the width is approximately 5 m. The connection between culvert / bridge and sluice / barrier consists of concrete masonry / barrier walls, of which it is currently not known / established whether the intended construction as a '(DEMOLITION) CULVERT' ever rested upon it. In the connection singly executed, iron-reinforced (shutter board) sill slots by means of which the barrier could also be effected. The structure has rarity value because it is a well-preserved remainder, recognisable in form and function, of the (military and / or civil) barriers along the Waterlinieweg.

Valuation

The SLUICE / BARRIER / (DEMOLITION) CULVERT / BRIDGE in the Biltsche Vaart or Biltsche Grift at the Offerhausweg, beneath and along the Waterlinieweg, is of general importance because of:

* Cultural-historical values as part of the New Holland Water Line as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and in its initial phase from 1815 by him, Jan Blanken and major-engineer Willem Offerhaus and subsequently strengthened and improved by others for more than 125 years.

* Architectural-historical values in particular as an expression of military-strategic building practice, which is based on the system of inundation and access defence (19th and 20th centuries).

The component is an example of a historical hydraulic engineering expression related to military-strategic building practice.

* Ensemble value and situational values as part of the New Holland Water Line. Also because of the functional and physical relationship with the other components of the complex and in particular with the counterparts or related structures in the further south located Minstroom at the Erasmuslaan / Albert van Dalsumlaan and in the Kromme Rijn—both also at the Waterlinieweg.

* The component is reasonably well preserved because the main form and function have remained clearly recognisable and intact.

* The component is representative because it is an example of a large culvert / bridge specially built in a new road system and in connection with the New Holland Water Line, while the rest of the adjacent sluice / barrier beside it has rarity value as a recognisable functional military element.