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Oosterweel link, Scheldt Tunnel

BE

About

The Oosterweel connection will link the Antwerp ring road to the north side. The Scheldt Tunnel is the most important connection in this process. Eight tunnel elements – each weighing 60,000 tonnes – will be sunk into a pre-dredged sinkhole.

Challenge

This is one of the largest and most complex construction sites of recent years in Belgium.

Solution

From the first tender stage onwards, the double-curved tunnel was modelled completely parametrically for the plan preparation and quantity calculations. The parametric model allows the design to be updated quickly.

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Client(s)

  • Lantis

Location

Antwerp, Belgium

Timeline

2020

2027

Expertise Team(s)

  • Digital Engineering

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Design Solution(en)

  • Building Simulations

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Construction Element HQ

Infranea supported THV COTU from the first quoting phase with complete parametric modelling of the doubly curved tunnel. Thanks to the parametric model, Infranea was able to provide an update to the design very quickly, allowing THV COTU's engineering team to continue working on drawing up the winning bid.

Maarten van den Berg

principal infrastructure, Infranea, member of VK architects+engineers

LANTIS, as the principal for the Oosterweel Link, has awarded the contract for implementing the Scheldt Tunnel to the Tijdelijke Handelsvereniging Combinatie Oosterweeltunnel (THV COTU). THV COTU is composed of the Belgian construction groups BESIX, BAM Contractors, DEME and JAN DE NUL.

The Scheldt Tunnel forms the most important element of the Oosterweel Link and will complete the Antwerp Ring Road on the northern side. The tunnel has a total length of 1,800m and will be constructed in line with the “immersed tunnel” method. In order to do so, 8 tunnel elements of around 60,000 tons each will be constructed in the Rear Port of Zeebrugge and then floated via the North Sea and the Western Scheldt to Antwerp. There, they will be immersed one after another in a previously dredged trench in the Scheldt.

The initial preparatory works will start in the autumn of 2020. The construction works for the tunnel itself will commence after the summer of 2021.

Our approach

Infranea has been involved in the project since the tendering phase, focusing on 3D parametric design and BIM. Because a parametric design process and BIM were considered during the tendering phase, we are convinced that this will save a great deal of time during the implementation.

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