VENICE TESTS FLOODGATES
Beset by regular flooding over the centuries, Venice has successfully tested a system the city hopes will offer some relief from rising sea levels – a 1.5km array of mobile defensive barriers.
Venice is located within a lagoon and the new Mose system (comprising 78 mobile floodgates) is located at the lagoon’s three main entrances. Work on the project began in 2003 but its original budget has trebled – and progress has been troubled by delays and corruption – and, of course Covid-19.
The Mose (Experimental Electromechanical Module) system uses compressed air to empty the barriers of water. Once buoyant the they rise up and block the incoming tide. Defensive barriers were raised and lowered at three inlets – two arrays at the Lido, and one each at Malamocco and Chioggia. Despite the successful operation, engineers believe another 18 months of testing is required.
In November last year the city suffered its worst floods in half a century, with more than 80% of the area underwater.
