Week of 15 September
1. Safety exercise in Rottemer Tunnel (the Netherlands)
With the opening of the A16 motorway in Rotterdam just weeks away, the team of BESIX NL took part in a large-scale safety exercise inside the 2.2-kilometre-long Rottemer Tunnel. The tunnel is equipped with 54 critical safety systems, including ventilation, lighting and emergency exits, so it was essential to test them thoroughly. But it wasn’t just about the technology. Emergency services and tunnel staff also practised working together to ensure swift and effective responses in case of a real incident.
On behalf of Rijkwaterstraat, BESIX NL, Mobilis, Croonwolter&dros, Dura Vermeer, Van Oord, Rebel, Epicofund and John Laing are responsible for the design, build, financing and 20-year maintenance of this energy-neutral motorway.
2. Milestone in the Casacastalda Tunnel (Italy)
After completing excavation works in June, our team in Central-Italy has reached another milestone: they finished the arch concrete works for the 1.5-kilometre Casacastalda Tunnel! The focus is now on the remaining concrete works for the by-passes and tunnel entrances, bringing us another step closer to completion of this road tunnel. Congratulations, team Italy!
The tunnel is part of the State Road 318, which BESIX and Donati S.p.A. are expanding over 3.1 kilometres to improve traffic flow between Perugia and Ancona in central Italy. The project also includes the 870-metre-long Picchiarella Tunnel, the Tre Vescovi viaduct and the Calvario bridge.
3. Impressive early morning sight in Ghent (Belgium)
A striking moment was captured yesterday morning on the R4 ring road project in Ghent, where the BRAVO4 consortium is working to transform 22 intersections to improve traffic flow and safety. The crown of the pyramid-shaped Ringvaart Bridge was lifted into the sky, creating an impressive scene on site. Swipe through the pictures to get a glimpse of what the final result will look like.
Once complete, the upgraded R4 will offer safer crossings, smoother mobility and better connections for cyclists, drivers and local communities. Great work, team!
4. Progress at Woolworths Distribution Centre (Australia)
In western Sydney, BESIX Watpac has reached a new stage in the construction of Woolworths’ Chilled and Fresh Distribution Centre, with the roof and upper floor cladding now being closed in. This means that the focus will soon shift to building the temperature-controlled areas inside. Nice work, colleagues!
Once complete, this 93,000 m² facility will be the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere, handling over 6,000 tonnes of produce each day. Alongside chilled and fresh warehousing, the project includes ancillary buildings, office space and a four-storey above-ground car park. A total of 23,607 m² of solar panels will be installed to help power the site.
Click here or on the picture to watch the drone video and get a bird’s-eye view of the scale and progress on site.
And then this... Safety Day at Franki Foundations (Belgium)
Our colleagues at Franki Foundations recently gathered for their annual Safety Day, a full day focused on three important themes: safety, well-being, and care for the environment and climate. The programme included engaging workshops covering various topics such as ergonomics and shared vigilance. In the afternoon, teams from different departments took the stage to show how safety and well-being run through every phase of a project. The day wrapped up with a look at how our sector is evolving, with future innovations always viewed through the lens of health and safety.
