Discover the commitments behind the Canal
Find here the structural commitments of the Société du Canal Seine-Nord Europe and the project partners.
Discover the commitments behind the Canal
Find here the structural commitments of the Société du Canal Seine-Nord Europe and the project partners.
Many structures will be created all along the Seine Nord Europe Canal in the Santerre – Haute-Somme area: 30 engineering structures including 25 road bridges, 2 canal bridges, 2 locks. In addition, hydraulic works (aqueducts and siphons) will be built to ensure the transparency of the Canal vis-à-vis the flow of water. One of them, in Moislains, will be fitted out to allow large fauna to cross the Canal.
Three turning basins at Languevoisin-Quiquery (for the quays of Languevoisin and the port of Nesle), near the port of Péronne and at Moislains (for the grain quay) will allow barges to change the direction of navigation.
The Louette reservoir is a technical structure designed to maintain the water level of the Canal throughout the year. Located north of Péronne, this reservoir, with a capacity of 14 million cubic meters and covering an area of 65 hectares, will be filled with water from the Oise River when it is abundant. This will then allow the Canal to be supplied during periods of low water, when water withdrawals from the river to supply the Canal will be reduced or even stopped.
The Allaines junction lock , the same size as the existing locks on the Canal du Nord but approximately twice as high, will connect the Canal du Nord (and beyond, the Somme Valley) to the Seine-Nord Europe Canal. A marina will be built on either side of this junction lock, while the Canal du Nord will be filled in as far as Etricourt-Manancourt. Finally, the Tortille stream will be restored to its natural state at the point where the Canal du Nord is filled in.
The Allaines lock , open to the public and available for visits, will be located on the Seine-Nord Europe Canal, 1 km north of the junction lock. It will measure 195 meters long and 12,5 meters wide with a drop of 13,10 meters.
To maintain road access, the construction of 25 road crossings – bridges and tunnels – over the new waterway is necessary. The project also includes the restoration of the Amiens-Laon railway line and preserves the possibility of reopening the closed Chaulnes-Péronne line via a passage created in the canal embankment. These structures, discussed with local stakeholders, will ensure the continuity of traffic on both sides of the canal.
The Somme Canal Bridge , a flagship structure of the project, will allow boats to cross the Somme Valley at Cléry-sur-Somme while preserving the exceptional ecological richness of the sensitive natural area it traverses. At 1,3 kilometers long, the Somme Canal Bridge will be the longest structure of its kind in Europe.
Between the towns of Licourt and Cizancourt, in the immediate vicinity of the Somme viaduct spanning the Somme River and the Canal du Nord, a canal bridge will be built to allow the Seine-Nord Europe Canal to cross over the A29 motorway linking Amiens to Saint-Quentin. This structure, 33 meters long, will provide a clearance of more than 5 meters for vehicles to pass over the motorway.
The region will host two inland ports : the Nesle port , covering 86,7 hectares and connected to the Amiens-Laon railway line, and the Péronne port , extending over 43,4 hectares. These ports, true strategic multimodal hubs, will facilitate the unloading of goods and offer opportunities for development and transport services to the industrial and logistics sectors. They will also represent a source of jobs that cannot be outsourced and will provide innovative and sustainable solutions for distribution companies as well as the region's industrial and agricultural sectors.
A recreational boating stopover will be established in Saint-Christ-Briost, and a marina is also planned for Allaines. These two infrastructures represent an opportunity to develop river tourism for both private boaters and cruise passengers. They will thus enrich the overall tourism offerings of the region, complementing nature and heritage tourism.
Alongside these facilities, discussions are being held with local partners regarding the development of cycle routes to strengthen the multimodal offering and the attractiveness of the area.
The Canal's integration into the landscape and environment will also be prioritized to offer a high-quality living environment. In line with sustainable development principles, the project will enhance the local landscape, creating a "living" canal in the Somme region by reaffirming the presence of water and restoring woodlands and wetlands. Nearly 5 hectares of hydraulic structures will be created along the future Canal to promote biodiversity. Lagoon-like banks and fishing platforms, some of which will be accessible to people with disabilities, will also be constructed. These improvements will contribute to the development of tourism and the attractiveness of the region.
The Tortille, a tributary of the Somme, represents a local environmental and cultural heritage that must be preserved. It flows from Allaines to the north of Étricourt-Manancourt, returning to its original source in the Ytres aquifer. Heavily altered by the construction of the Canal du Nord, it will be fully restored and renaturalized. This restoration is a major ecological improvement project for the Canal du Nord.
Finally, the Seine-Nord Europe Canal project represents an opportunity for the local economy . During the construction phase, it is expected that around 6,000 jobs will be created for the canal itself, including approximately 3000 newly created positions, in addition to numerous indirect jobs in the accommodation, restaurant, and transportation sectors. The new economic activities developed thanks to the completed canal will also generate local employment.
The Seine-Nord Europe Canal Company then put in place the Major Project Approach , an exceptional mechanism aimed at supporting the realization of major infrastructure projects.
In the Santerre – Haute-Somme region, the major project initiative will result in the signing of a territorial development contract prior to the start of construction. These contracts reflect the collective ambition and outline the organization and role of each stakeholder in making the project, and beyond the future Canal, an opportunity for the Hauts-de-France region.
Added September 5, 2022 - Updated July 13, 2023
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