The first element of the Scheldt Tunnel has been successfully submerged and now lies at the bottom of the Scheldt, marking the first successful sinking for JV COTU.
In the coming days, we will move, together with our partners of the JV COTU, on to the final phase, known as “foundation injection.” Through a specially designed piping system built into the tunnel, the gap between the underside of the segment and the trench on the riverbed is precisely filled with a water-sand mixture. This sand effectively becomes the tunnel’s foundation, ensuring the element is fully supported on the riverbed. By Tuesday 8 July, the segment will be permanently in place.
Meanwhile, the broader Scheldt Tunnel operation continues: on 10 July*, the fifth tunnel segment will depart from Zeebrugge for the Doeldok in Antwerp. The immersion of the second segment is scheduled for 21 July*.
The Scheldt Tunnel consists of eight segments, four of which are moored in the Doeldok in Antwerp, awaiting immersion. With the first element now submerged, space is available for the fifth segment, scheduled to leave the construction dock in Zeebrugge on 11 July*.
The tunnel will include two tubes for motor traffic, an emergency escape tube, and a six-metre-wide cycle tube. It will provide an additional river crossing beneath the Scheldt, helping to complete the Antwerp Ring. Cyclists will be able to use the tunnel from 2028, with car traffic following in 2030. The full Oosterweel Link is set for completion in 2033.
TM COTU stands for “Temporary Partnership Combination Oosterweel Tunnel” and brings together the Belgian construction groups BESIX, Stadsbader Contractors, DEME, and Jan De Nul.
* Planning is subject to change and depends on several factors, including weather, wind, wave conditions, currents, and tides. You can follow all important operations via the live blog www.kanjersopkomst.be.
