Flood Barriers Safeguard Bryggen UNESCO Site from Flooding
In November 2024, Bryggen, a historic waterfront in Bergen, Norway, was at risk of flooding due to extreme weather.
Strong winds, heavy snowfall and rapidly rising water levels threatened this UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Bergen Fire Department acted quickly to safeguard it, deploying our modern water-filled flood barriers.
Please continue reading to find out how our innovative NoFloods barriers were used to keep Bryggen safe from flooding.
The Challenge: Bryggen, A UNESCO World Heritage Site was at Risk of Flooding
Bryggen’s unique location near the waterfront combined with strong winds increased its vulnerability to flooding.
Water levels were expected to rise by 5 cm every 10 minutes, with the peak anticipated late Friday evening, creating an urgent and serious risk of significant flood damage.
Traditional flood protection methods such as sandbags would have been labor-intensive, slow to deploy and less effective under the forecasted conditions.
The challenge was not only to protect the site, but to do so quickly, effectively and efficiently, without causing prolonged disruption to local traffic and residents.
The Solution: NoFloods Water-Filled Flood Barriers
To address this challenge, the Bergen Fire Department utilized a modern and innovative solution; the NoFloods water-filled flood barriers.
The barriers, made of large heavy-duty tubes that can be quickly deployed and filled with water, were set up along a 200-meter stretch in Bryggen.
They were deployed by a team of firefighters who rolled out two large NoFloods Pro tubes from a fire truck.
Once positioned, the tubes were filled with water, creating a heavy and stable barrier that could withstand the rising tide and strong winds.
Here’s how Kent Haukeland, the emergency manager, described the process in an interview with journalists from the Norwegian newspaper Bergens Tidende:
“The barriers become so heavy that neither waves nor wind can move them. We’ve only practiced with this equipment once before, so we are eager to see how it performs. It’s great to be able to secure our world heritage site.”
Filling the tubes with water took several hours but the fire department worked efficiently to ensure the water barriers were in place before water levels peaked.
The image slider below shows the NoFloods barriers in action in different locations – the deployment process was similar in Bryggen.
The Result of Using the Flood Barriers
The water-filled barriers proved to be highly effective.
Despite the extreme weather and rapidly rising water levels, Bryggen was successfully protected from flooding.
The barriers remained stable throughout the night, ensuring that no damage occurred to the world historic site.
While the deployment caused minor traffic disruptions, with one lane of Bryggen’s road closed for the weekend, the swift and efficient setup of the NoFloods barriers minimized the impact on residents and businesses.
Nina Heggernes Gjervik, a traffic operator with the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, told journalists from Bergens Tidende, that:
“There will likely be some traffic congestion, so people should prepare for queues. We recommend using the Fløyfjell Tunnel unless heading directly into the city center.”
Despite the traffic challenges, the operation demonstrated the potential of innovative solutions to handle urgent flood scenarios, not just in Bryggen but in Norway as a whole.
Want To Know How the NoFloods Barriers Can Help You? Contact Us Here!
Conclusion
The recent deployment at Bryggen demonstrates the vital role modern flood defence technologies play in protecting historically significant sites from the devastating impacts of flooding.
The quick response by the Bergen Fire Department, combined with the successful deployment of the NoFloods water-filled barriers, not only safeguarded this UNESCO World Heritage site but also showcased a practical and efficient alternative to traditional flood protection methods like sandbags.
As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, innovative flood protection solutions like these barriers are crucial for protecting vulnerable areas worldwide.
This operation highlights the power of teamwork and innovation in crisis management, proving that well-planned strategies can make a significant difference.
Bryggen’s protection serves as a powerful example of how modern flood protection solutions can preserve history while addressing contemporary challenges.
Here’s how Haukeland summed up his interview with the journalists:
“It’s great that we can protect our heritage while testing new equipment in a real-world scenario.”
By embracing and investing in advanced solutions like our flood barriers, we can strengthen our communities’ resilience to natural disasters and ensure that our cherished sites remain safe for future generations.
P.S: This story was featured in Norway’s newspaper Bergens Tidende here.
