Casting a wary eye at rising seas and erratic rivers, cities around the world are beefing up their defences to fend off flood risk.
Wroclaw in south-west Poland is no exception. Halcrow has been appointed with partners Scott Wilson and BRLi to deliver a key component of a scheme to modernise the historic city’s flood-prevention system.
The project will improve the River Odra’s flow capacity through Wroclaw and provide additional flood defence measures along the river. It forms an integral part of a wider £468 million flood risk management scheme – Europe’s largest.
From its source in the Czech Republic’s mountain ranges the Odra flows through Poland and north to the Baltic Sea. In 1997, flooding caused extensive damage and loss of life. This sweeping devastation was the catalyst for a major flood alleviation initiative funded in part by the World Bank, European Union grants and local investment.
Set to run for six years, the project comprises a review of feasibility, outline design and detailed design in its first phase, from 2009 to 2012. Extending from 2010 to 2015, phase two includes construction supervision and overseeing a one-year maintenance period.