Locks in Trollhätte canal
To ensure the future of shipping on lake Vänern, the Swedish Transport Administration in collaboration with the Swedish Maritime Administration are building new navigational locks in in Lilla Edet, Trollhättan and Vänersborg.
The current locks are over a hundred years old and their function cannot be kept up for much longer by regular maintenance and therefore they need to be replaced. By 2030 the locks are considered to have reached their technical life expectancy.
New locks are needed
- to ensure the shipping transportation needed by the industry
- to create conditions for a future shift of transportation from roads to shipping
- to enable larger vessels to traffic the canal in the future
New locks are also beneficial for the local and boat tourism industry and are a prerequisite for a continued development of the traffic on, to and from lake Vänern.
For suppliers and contractors
| Label | Project title | Form of contract | Procurement | Start of construction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E11 | Ny sluss och farled Trollhätte kanal Lilla Edet |
Design and build ECI* |
Publication of contract notice 2025-03-10 |
Preliminary 2027 Q2 |
| E12 | Rivningsentreprenad 11 fastigheter Trollhätte kanal Lilla Edet |
Design and build |
Contract awarded based on a framework agreement |
Ongoing |
| E21 | Nya slussar Trollhätte kanal Trollhättan |
Design and build ECI* |
Publication of contract notice Q4 2025 |
Preliminary 2028 Q2 |
| E22 | Byggnation av öppningsbar bro, Västergärdetbron Trollhätte kanal Trollhättan |
Client design (performance contract) |
Publication of contract notice Q2 2026 |
Preliminary 2027 Q1 |
| E31 | Ny sluss och farled Trollhätte kanal Vänersborg |
Not decided | Not decided | Preliminary 2029 Q2 |
*ECI = Early contractor involvment
Contract description
Here you can read the contract description for E21. Further down there is also a link to Trafikverket's purchase timetable.
New locks with a lifting height of 32 meters in Trollhättan, Sweden
The existing locks in Trollhättan are in poor condition and will be replaced by three new locks at a new location. The new locks are being designed to accommodate vessels measuring up to 110 x 16.5 meters. Construction is taking place while traffic continues in the existing fairway.
In collaboration with the Swedish Maritime Administration, the Swedish Transport Administration plans to procure a contractor for the construction of the new locks in Trollhättan. The project involves risks that may impact time, cost, and the functionality of the final facility. The project's goal is to allocate risks to the party best suited to manage them, which is the main reason for selecting the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) contract model. The contractor will contribute to the design process through value engineering and measures to enhance constructability.
The ECI contract is divided into an initial investigation and design phase (2027–2028), during which a target price for completing the facility will be developed in collaboration with the contractor. Phase two is optional and dependent on agreement of the target price. It will be executed as a design-and-build contract (2028–2032). A design basis has already been prepared and will be developed into a technical specification in phase two, where construction documents will be produced and the actual construction will take place.
The procurement will be conducted in two stages. All contractors are welcome to participate in an initial prequalification round (November 2025). Up to five suppliers will then be invited (April 2026) to submit tenders based on the provided request for proposals. Project planning documents for the new lock facility—describing the overall scope of the finished facility—will be shared as part of the tender documentation.
Construction and operation of the new facility will require several permits. An application under the Environmental Code is being prepared, along with other necessary permits for both construction and future operation. A legally binding environmental permit is required before any work in phase two can begin. Additional permits may also be required and could be the responsibility of the contractor.
The project is located in central Trollhättan, close to both residential and commercial areas. Among several challenges, the planning of large-scale concrete castings, the extraction of significant rock volumes in a short period, and the transport of materials from the site stand out. All work will take place alongside ongoing traffic on nearby streets, as well as pedestrian, cycling, and water routes. Robust and flexible production planning, along with continuous collaboration with stakeholders, is seen as essential.
In Sweden, no new locks have been built at a new location for over a century. This project in Trollhättan represents a unique opportunity for societal development, ensuring and advancing waterborne traffic between Lake Vänern and the North Sea for the long term.
Supplier dialogues
Digital supplier dialogue for procurement of E21 – 17 September 2025
We are now inviting you to a supplier dialogue for the procurement of the E21 – Nya slussar Trollhätte kanal, Trollhättan.
The program includes new locks in Trollhättan, Lilla Edet and Vänersborg and is a collaboration between Trafikverket and Sjöfartsverket.
More information about the project including the timetable can be found here on the website.
The purpose of the dialogue:
Inform about the planned design of the application call for new locks in Trollhättan and get the market's views on this. The information will include qualification requirements, added value and our procurement process. The goal is to achieve an attractive contract with a sound distribution of risk and with the conditions to carry out the project in the best possible way.
The meeting will be held digitally via Skype on September 17 between 10:30 and 12:00. All suppliers who are interested are welcome to participate. There will be time for questions and there will also be an opportunity to submit comments afterwards.
Registration is done by emailing the following by 12 September at the latest:
caroline.rabbaa@trafikverket.se
The town Lilla Edet gets Sweden's first triangular lock
Lilla Edet, home to Sweden's oldest lock, will also have Sweden's first triangular lock.