DEME Group has announced a major milestone in the construction of the Scheldetunnel, part of the Oosterweel Link in Antwerp. The first of eight prefabricated tunnel elements has now been successfully immersed and installed beneath the Scheldt River, marking the beginning of one of the project’s most complex engineering phases.

This significant achievement follows years of detailed design, construction, and logistical planning. In recent weeks, the first four tunnel elements—each a massive feat of civil engineering—were transported to Antwerp and temporarily stored at the Doeldok.

With the Doeldok’s capacity reached, immersion operations commenced. The carefully coordinated process involves lowering each segment onto the riverbed with precision, ensuring proper alignment and stability.

Each tunnel element measures 160 metres in length, 42 metres in width, and 10 metres in height, weighing in at approximately 60,000 tonnes. These colossal structures are designed to form the Scheldetunnel, which is the final and critical component of the Oosterweel Link project.

Once complete, the tunnel will include two vehicular traffic tubes, a dedicated emergency passage, and a six-metre-wide cycle tube—delivering both enhanced road infrastructure and a safe, direct cycling route beneath the Scheldt.

The cycling link is scheduled to open in 2028, followed by car traffic in 2030. The entire Oosterweel Link is on track for full completion by 2033, transforming mobility in and around Antwerp while significantly improving traffic flow and environmental sustainability.

For more information about the Oosterweel Link and tunnelling milestones visit https://herbosch-kiere.be/en/references/oosterweel/  stay connected with Tunnelbuilder.com 28/25.