Oosterweel Link - Scheldt Tunnel

The Scheldt Tunnel is an essential part of  the Oosterweel Link, completing the northern section of the Antwerp Ring Road. BESIX, as part of the TM COTU joint venture, is contributing to the immersed tunnel’s construction and is also involved in the Canal Tunnels through the ROCO consortium.

The tunnel comprises five shafts: two for motorised traffic with three lanes each, one emergency tube, one shaft for technical installations, and a six-metre-wide cycle tube. In total, the tunnel includes eight elements, each 160 metres long and weighing 60,000 tonnes. These have been constructed in a dry dock in Zeebrugge and towed to Antwerp via the North Sea and the River Scheldt.

Beyond the tunnel itself, a 24-hectare ecological zone featuring tidal marshes and floodplains has been developed by relocating the original Scheldt dyke. This initiative enhances local biodiversity and strengthens Antwerp’s flood defences.

• Construction of eight tunnel elements in a purpose-built dry dock in Zeebrugge

• Transportation of the elements from Zeebrugge to Antwerp, via the North Sea and the River Scheldt

• Immersion of the elements in the River Scheldt

• Flood protection and ecological enhancement through the relocation of the Scheldt dyke

• Integrated expertise: Multiple entities within the BESIX Group are contributing to this project, including BESIX, BESIX Infra, BESIX Unitec, Franki Foundations, and BESIX Steel & Formwork.

• Innovative approach: The tunnel elements are built in a dry dock in Zeebrugge and towed on the water to their final location in Antwerp, using ballast technology, one of the most advanced techniques in concrete and hydraulic engineering.

• Landmark infrastructure: The Scheldt Tunnel is a vital element of the Oosterweel Link, providing a crucial crossing of the River Scheldt and completing the northern section of the Antwerp Ring Road.