Antwerp (Brussels Morning) – Lantis plans to open the Oosterweel bike tunnel in Antwerp by mid-2027, focusing on cyclist safety and comfort, with potential nighttime closures and special lighting.
Lantis the folks building the Oosterweel connection plans to get the bicycle tunnel ready by mid-2027 and it should be open by the first quarter of 2028. They want to open the bike tunnel two years before the car tunnel because cyclists especially those going to and from the port need a quick and easy way to cross the Scheldt without stairs or lifts. They’re making sure cyclists have a smooth ride before the car tunnel is ready.
What are the Plans for the Antwerp Bike Tunnel and How Will It Enhance Cyclist Safety?
In Copenhagen for a big conference on moving around and building stuff Luc Hellemans shared the news. He said they want to open the bike tunnel quickly to help people benefit from the work as soon as possible. They believe in getting things done fast so everyone can enjoy the improvements sooner.
Lantis is checking out bike tunnels abroad to get ideas for the one they’re building. They visited Lyon a few weeks back and talked with the Fyllingsdalen tunnel project manager in Bergen Norway, which is a long tunnel for bikes and walkers. They’re focused on making sure people feel safe in and around the tunnel. They’re thinking about possibly closing the tunnel at night like they do in Bergen from 11:30 pm to 5:30 am to ensure cyclists can ride through without worries. If they decide to close it at night they’ll make sure it works well with the port’s shift changes.
Lantis is getting ready to chat with the Cyclists’ Union about opening the bike tunnel early. They want to figure out if things like special lighting and music can make cyclists feel good while using the tunnel. The future Scheldt tunnel links Antwerp’s left bank with the port and Eilandje on the right bank. On the Left Bank it connects to the Ring traffic junction and the E34 heading towards Knokke.
The tunnel goes underground between Blokkersdik nature reserve and Sint-Anna forest. On the right bank it pops up at Noordkasteel connecting to the Oosterweel junction. It’s 1.8 kilometers long with separate tunnels for cars in each direction. There are three lanes going each way, with an emergency lane in the middle and a wide six-meter tunnel just for bikes.
