Major Works

[The Rock Doctor]

Kiel Canal

Trans-Eryka Canal

[The Rock Doctor]

Kiel Canal

Lock A:  125m
Lock B:  225m
Lock C:  250m
Lock-levels:  1 at each end (6 locks total)

Maximum length:  250.00 m
Maximum beam:  35.00 m
Maximum draft:  9.50 m
Maximum height:  42.00 m

Background

The Kiel Canal was built along historical lines, more or less, but the historical 1907-14 expansion began in 2H1912:

The physical dimensions of the canal was increased as was done historically.  Sources indicated the cross-sectional area of the canal increased from an average of 413 square metres to 828 square metres.  The increase of 415 square metres over a length of 98,700 metres means there is 40.96 million cubic metres of dirt to move.

The canal has a pair of parallel locks at each end to control flow velocities, not because of elevation issues.  Prior to this upgrade, there are parallel 125 m long.

Lock A will remain unchanged, and therefore suitable for lighter craft.

Lock B at each of Kiel and Brunsbuttel will be expanded from 125 m to 225 m.

A new lock C will be built at each end of the canal, and will be 250 m long.

Total Costs, then:

Excavation:  $10.25, pro-rated over one year.
Lock B:  $10/1 BP, pro-rated over one year.
Lock C:  $25/2.5 BP, pro-rated over two and a half years.

[The Rock Doctor]

Trans-Eryka Canal

Although consideration was given towards a canal being built along the Atrato and San Juan rivers of the Choco region, the geography just isn't quite favorable enough. Consequently, the Union will begin construction of a canal along the Bannaba (OTL Panama) isthmus.

Compared with the OTL canal, this project involved a deeper channel and more extensive digging, but only required two sets of locks rather than three.

Essentials:

Open to traffic:  January 6, 1919

Caribbean terminus:  Loobow (OTL Colon)
Pacific terminus:  Bannaba (OTL Panama City)

Lock A:  250m
Lock B:  250m
Lock-levels:  Two at each end (eight locks total)

Maximum length:  250.00 m
Maximum beam:  35.00 m
Maximum draft:  12.00 m
Maximum height:  N/A as there are no bridges across the canal.

Background:  OTL Panama Canal

Sources indicate that 153 million cubic metres was excavated by the Americans and French to complete the canal; this omits additional French digging which was not useful towards the American plans.  Useable draft in the canal is 12.6 metres.

We also know that the Americans built a total of twelve locks - matching pairs of three at each end - to lift ships an average of 26 metres above sea level.  The original lock dimensions were 320 metres long.

The total cost of replicating the Panama Canal here would be:

Excavation:  153 million cubic metres * $0.25 = $38.25
Locks:  $16/1.6 BP *12 = $192
Total:  $230.25

Background:  Two-Lock Option

The Union has investigated two additional options, one of which would see the channel dug an additional 8m/26' deeper compared to the baseline design.  This would put the "floor" of the canal at 14' ASL.

Over the first nine kilometres of the passage from the Atlantic locks, elevations are low enough that no additional excavation is necessary.

Over the next nineteen kilometres, under Gatun Lake, the broad channel requires an increase of 26' depth across a 1000' width for 26,000 square feet.  This is bumped up to 28,000 square feet, or 2,600 square metres, to account for sloping along the sides of the canal.  Total additional excavation is 49.4 million cubic metres.

Over the remaining 23,000 metres,  the canal is only 300' wide.  Digging down 26' also requires a wider cut overall to maintain slope angles.  By a rather strange coincidence, it was estimated that the cross-sectional increase here was also 2,600 square metres.  Total additional excavation is 59.8 million cubic metres.

Two levels of locks are sufficient to go from sea-level to canal-level, meaning eight locks are required.  A 250m length - projected to be adequate until the 1940s - is established.  These are estimated to cost $12.5 * 8 = $100.

Total costs then:

Original excavation:  153 million cubic metres * $0.25 = $38.25
Additional excavation:  109.2 million cubic metres * $0.25 = $27.25
Locks:  $100
Total:  $165.5

Background:  Sea Level Option

A source from the 1950s investigated a parallel sea-level route to complement the historical Panama Canal. 

Excavation came in at a billion cubic yards, or about 765 million cubic metres.

One level of locks - four total - would be required to offset tidal differences.

Total Costs:

Excavation:  765 * 0.25 = $191.25
4 locks:  $50
Total:  $241.25