The dam was built in 1953. Engineer J. van Overeem
developed among other elements the pontoon sections
with which the caissons were assembled. For the
Waal River dam, 26 sections were used, resulting in
a caisson of 230 meters in length (the width of the
River), 9 meters high and 30 meters wide. For both
the Rhine and IJssel Rivers, 10 sections were
needed. The necessary testing was conducted at the
Waterloopkundig Laboratorium (hydrology lab) in
Delft, using a scale model of 1:10, with a single
actual pontoon section in the lock next to the dam
at Lith aan de Maas. In the event of the threat of
war, the caissons would be sunk on top of a
previously prepared asphalt sill in the river
bottom. The caissons fitted exactly between two
abutment piers, which were connected by multiple
buttress dams to the high ground (winter dike).
Both the buttress dams and the caissons were
equipped with moveable gates which had to be
systematically closed after the caissons were sunk.
The project was substantially completed within the
year, and identified as Plan D (Plan Deventer): the
dam at Olst. In 1953 the entire IJssel Line was
fully operational.