In Antwerp, the construction of the Channel Tunnels of the Oosterweel Link has reached an important new phase. On 13 May 2026, the first concrete was poured for the tunnel floor beneath the Albert Canal, a symbolic and technical milestone for this major infrastructure project.
After years of preparatory works, this first concrete pour marks the effective start of tunnel construction. The contractor consortium TM ROCO*, of which BESIX together with BESIX Infra is part, is delivering the Channel Tunnels on behalf of the client Lantis.
Key role in smoother mobility
The Channel Tunnels form a crucial link in the Oosterweel Link. They will directly connect traffic to and from the Port of Antwerp – and from the north of the city – with the Ring Road. By routing traffic underneath the Albert Canal, they reduce the impact on the surrounding area and help improve traffic flow and liveability in the region.
The tunnels consist of four tubes stacked two by two and will extend over a route of approximately 2.5 kilometres.
Complex construction in challenging conditions
The works are taking place in an exceptional construction environment. In the Albert Canal, a vast construction zone was first created using retaining walls, after which the space was filled with sand to enable a dry work area. The sand was then excavated again to create an excavation pit approximately 29 metres deep – comparable to a ten-storey building.
A controlled construction rhythm
“Every two weeks, around 20 metres of tunnel are added, allowing the site to move forward in a controlled way and enabling us to deliver a 2.5-kilometre tunnel within a few years. We call that the ‘concrete train’,” says Jeroen Philtjens, BESIX employee and project director at TM ROCO. “Thanks to a tight and repeatable working rhythm, we can build the tunnel step by step. We start at the Havenhuis and work towards the Oosterweel junction, after which we also head in the other direction towards the Noorderlaan bridge,” he adds.
Towards completion of the Antwerp Ring
With this milestone, the missing link in the Antwerp Ring Road is becoming increasingly tangible. Together with the other components of the Oosterweel project, the Channel Tunnels will contribute to a future-proof mobility network that significantly strengthens accessibility to Antwerp and its port.
The first vehicles are expected in the tunnels by 2033, when the full Oosterweel Link will be operational.
TM ROCO is the temporary partnership working on the construction of the sunken Ring Road and the Channel Tunnels. The partnership consists of the contractors BESIX, BESIX Infra, Cordeel, DEME, Denys, Van Laere, Willemen Bouw, Willemen Infra and Jan De Nul.