Our colleagues in Rotterdam (the Netherlands) will soon be celebrating a remarkable milestone! As they wrap up the final touches and near the completion of construction activities, their current focus is on the tunnel's interior. This includes applying heat-resistant cladding and installing a range of technical systems, such as cameras, fire extinguishers, and detection loops.
In addition, they are fitting noise insulation walls at the tunnel entrances, involving the meticulous placement of around 10,000 panels. Each panel is uniquely designed with 15,000 small holes, maximising sound absorption through the acoustic material behind it.
Furthermore, the team has opted for lighter-coloured asphalt that better reflects light, alongside a reflective coating on the tunnel entrance walls. This reduces the amount of lighting required to achieve the desired effect and consequently saves energy by allowing for less intense illumination within the tunnel.
Our colleagues are also busy with finishing works outside the Rottemer Tunnel. This semi-underground tunnel, which runs beneath the Lage Bergse Bos, required the excavation of a large construction pit. Now, as the tunnel nears completion, our teams are beginning to dismantle the construction sites. Once this is done, the tunnel roof and embankments will be adorned with abundant greenery, restoring the area to its original recreational state.
On October 13th, the Rottemer Tunnel was energised. Next year, an extensive test phase of all technical tunnel systems will take place. Following this, the teams looks forward to opening the tunnel for traffic in 2025.
Congratulations to all colleagues involved in the project for this impressive achievement! We wish you all the best with the final stages of work.
What is the Rottemer Tunnel?
The Rottemer Tunnel is a crucial part of the new 11-kilometre section of the A16, which will be the world's first energy-neutral highway with a tunnel. This semi-underground tunnel, spanning 2.2-kilometres, passes underneath the Lage Bergse Bos and the river Rotte.
To power the A16, including the Rottemer Tunnel, energy is generated from three locations equipped with a total of 11,000 solar panels. To further reduce power consumption, the teams are installing energy-efficient LED lighting. The use of reflective coating and light-coloured asphalt helps decrease the need for bright lighting. In addition, the tunnel will be powered by DC voltage instead of AC voltage, since most electrical systems operate on DC voltage. By avoiding having to install adapters, this measure also reduces energy losses.
