The first tunnelelement for the new Scheldetunnel has successfully arrived in the port of Antwerp after a complex journey from Zeebrugge. This massive structure, measuring 160 meters long and weighing 60,000 tons, was transported over 100 kilometers via the North Sea and the Schelde River, a feat completed on 2025-06-01 00:10:00.
- First Scheldetunnel element arrives in Antwerp
- Transport covers 100+ kilometers by sea
- Eight tunnelelements to be moved this year
- Ballast tanks control floating and sinking
- Transport requires precise timing at low tide
- Oosterweelverbinding project aims to improve mobility
This operation marks a significant milestone in the construction of the Scheldetunnel, part of the larger Oosterweelverbinding project aimed at easing Antwerp’s notorious traffic congestion. But how challenging is it to move such a colossal object along a tidal river like the Schelde? And what does this mean for local commuters and residents?
Understanding the scale and precision involved in this transport sheds light on the complexity of Antwerp’s infrastructure upgrades. The arrival of the first tunnelelement sets the stage for the final assembly and eventual opening of the tunnel, promising improved mobility for the region.
Transporting such enormous tunnelelements over water is no simple task. What makes this operation particularly difficult? Consider these points:
- The tunnelelements have ballast tanks to control buoyancy, allowing precise rising and lowering during departure and arrival.
- The journey took over 24 hours, including strategic stops like Terneuzen to align with tidal conditions for safer navigation.
- Only two time windows per month allow the final positioning of the tunnel segments due to the need for dead tide conditions, requiring meticulous planning.
- The transport attracted many spectators, highlighting public interest in this impressive engineering endeavor despite much of the structure remaining submerged during transit.
As the remaining tunnelelements make their way to Antwerp, attention now turns to the precise assembly and eventual opening of the Scheldetunnel. Will this ambitious project meet its 2028 target for cyclists and 2030 for road traffic? Belgian residents and commuters eagerly await the transformation of Antwerp’s transport landscape.
