The COTU joint venture has commenced inundating the first Scheldt Tunnel element on the left bank of the River Scheldt in Antwerp, Belgium. This marks a significant milestone in the construction of the Scheldt Tunnel, an important part of the Oosterweel Link project.
Construction of the first tunnel element on the left bank was recently completed, and in early December, flooding of this part of the site began. Over the coming weeks, 150,000 m³ of water will be pumped from the Scheldt into this area in preparation for the next phase in the project.
Enhancing flood protection
The inundation is a critical step towards the planned breaching of the current dyke next year, allowing the river to flow freely and creating additional room for natural flood management. A new 2.5-metre-higher dyke will be constructed 300 metres inland, creating a 24-hectare ecologically valuable area with mudflats, tidal marshes and a floodplain forest, strengthening Antwerp’s flood defence.
Elke Rombaut, Project Manager Earthworks and Dredging at TM COTU, explains the careful process: “We can't just breach the current dyke because of the strong current of the Scheldt, as it could cause damage to the tunnel. That's why we progressively flood the tunnel yard before breaching the dyke in early 2025."
Construction of the tunnel elements in Zeebruges
In the meantime, the remaining eight tunnel elements for the Scheldt Tunnel have been constructed in a dedicated dry dock in Zeebruges. Each elements is 160 metres long and 40 metres wide. Structural work was completed in September 2024. The elements are now being prepared for transport to Antwerp in 2025.
Preparations include sealing the ends of each element with temporary walls, installing ballast tanks for buoyancy and adding tensioning strands to ensure the eight segments of each element remain securely connected during transport. Once ready, the tunnel elements will be towed one by one via the North Sea and Scheldt to Antwerp, where they will be submerged and connected to the riverbanks.
A key component of the Oosterweel Link
Set for completion in phases, the Scheldt Tunnel will open to cyclists in 2028 and to motorised traffic by 2030. As part of the broader Oosterweel Link project, it will provide a vital new crossing of the Scheldt and close the northern section of the Antwerp Ring Road, easing congestion and improving connectivity.
