Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Scheldt Tunnel (1.8 km) in Antwerp’s Oosterweel project will connect both sides of the Scheldt River. 8 tunnel sections (160m, 60,000-65,000 tons) will move from Zeebrugge in May 2025. Annick De Ridder highlighted its global importance. For cyclists it will be open in 2028, and for cars in 2030.
The Scheldt Tunnel, a key part of Antwerp’s Oosterweel project, is getting closer to completion. 8 huge concrete tunnel sections, each 160 meters long and weighing 65,000 tonnes, have been built in the port of Zeebrugge. These sections will be floated to Antwerp and submerged under the Scheldt River.
On the right side of the river, the ground has been prepared for the tunnel sections. On the left side, the tunnel entrance is finished. A part of the old Scheldt dyke has been removed to make room for the tunnel and create space for nature.
When will Antwerp’s 1.8 km Scheldt Tunnel open for bikes and cars?
Flemish Minister Annick De Ridder recently visited the construction site and highlighted the global interest in this project. The next step is to move the tunnel sections from Zeebrugge to Antwerp on May 19, 2025. He mentioned that this would be a complicated process, but once the sections are in place, they would be lowered into the river, connected, and sealed.
The tunnel will open to cyclists in 2028 and to cars in 2030. Annick De Ridder stated that this is among Belgium’s most ambitious infrastructure schemes and should contribute to traffic movement improvement in Antwerp and the linking of the city’s two sides.
According to the officials, the trip from Zeebrugge to Antwerp will take about 30 hours for each section, and they should all be in place by the end of the year. Once in Antwerp, each section will be lowered into a special trench at the bottom of the Scheldt River, lined up with the others, and joined together.
The Scheldt Tunnel will be 1.8 kilometers long and will connect different parts of the city across the Scheldt River. The tunnel will have 3 lanes for cars on each side and a special tunnel for bikes.
Officials mentioned that they have already done a lot of work, including digging out a lot of dirt and making a hole in an old part of the dike. The tunnel will be an important part of the Antwerp Ring, helping to reduce traffic jams and make traffic flow better.
