The forgotten lock: hope for the southern wing of the Mittelland Canal!

The forgotten lock: hope for the southern wing of the Mittelland Canal!

In the heart of Germany, where shipping meets history, there are exciting developments regarding the revitalization of the southern wing of the Mittelland Canal. The foundation for this ambitious project was laid over 100 years ago, when the vision arose to connect the Halle-Leipzig industrial region with the North Sea. But as it is, plans from back then often fell victim to the adversities of the times. MDR reported by Dirk Becker, who discovered a mysterious concrete ruin near Merseburg in 2007 - the remains of the Wüsteneutzsch lock. This structure was planned for freight tugs with a capacity of 1,000 tons and was part of a master plan from 1926.

The history of the lock is an example of the diverse challenges that such large-scale projects bring with them. Various crises, including those of the 1920s and the Second World War, repeatedly put the realization of this dream on hold. Becker himself was not discouraged and published a book in 2008 that describes the south wing as a comeback in water tourism. At least Leipzig's goal of connecting the unfinished Lindenau harbor to the city's water network was achieved.

Wüsteneutzsch lock staircase

The lock staircase near Wüsteneutzsch is particularly noteworthy. This is one of the few of its kind in Germany. Two identical lock chambers were originally planned, but unfortunately only the upper chamber is visible. This is where history meets engineering art, because this facility is the largest single structure on the Saale-Elster Canal and is part of the large-scale “South Wing Mittelland Canal” project. Saale Elster Canal describes the many technical features: an impressive 354 meter long interim storage facility, two outer harbors and a versatile towing system. Together they ensure that the ships can navigate safely and easily between the different water levels.

But the costs of the upper lock chamber are not without their costs: almost 2.6 million Reichsmarks had to be raised for the construction. This shows how ambitious the plans once were, even if the execution was not fully completed. And yet: In spring 2022, a model of the upper lock chamber was created, which will now be presented to the public on special occasions.

Potential of inland shipping

Transport infrastructure in hydraulic engineering is an important topic that is often underestimated. The federal waterway network in Germany has an impressive total length of 7,476 kilometers, 75% of which runs on rivers and 25% on canals. According to that Shipping Association This network provides the basis for international freight transport and is of crucial importance for European water transport. This is underpinned by numerous lock chambers and other facilities that support shipping in Germany.

In recent years there have been efforts to promote inland waterway transport as a safe and environmentally friendly alternative. Gesa Schwoon at the Federal Ministry of Transport has developed a master plan for recreational boating in Germany in order to find the most modern ways to use the waterway network even more efficiently. This shows that history may be full of setbacks, but the dream of reviving the southern wing of the Mittelland Canal lives on and shows that water tourism is once again popular.

Anyone interested in the exciting history of the Wüsteneutzsch lock can look forward to guided tours that will take place without prior registration on June 21 and September 20, 2025. A small ticket for five euros allows you to take a look into this eventful past, and perhaps you can even find out more about the fascinating plans that are still waiting on the waterway during one of these tours.