Construction of the eight elements of the new Scheldt Tunnel in Antwerp began in January 2023 on the Boudewijnkanaal in Zeebrugge.
To this end, the contractor built a completely new dock at the corner of the Boudewijnkanaal and the Verbindingsdok: the construction dock. It is no less than 1 kilometer long and 200 meters wide.
The Scheldt Tunnel completes the Antwerp Ring Road and becomes a fourth way to cross the Scheldt, alongside the Kennedy, Waasland, and Liefkenshoek tunnels. The final tunnel section was transported to Antwerp at the end of September.
The construction dock has therefore fulfilled its purpose, and the contractor will dismantle the site by the end of December. This completely frees up the construction dock. With the completion of this construction phase, a new stage begins: the temporary construction dock will become a permanent dock.
Patrice Vindevogel, project manager at Port of Antwerp-Bruges, stated that currently is being built a new quayside at the Verbindingsdok, around the corner from the construction dock and in future, one RORO ship will be able to moor here.
On the side of the Boudewijnkanaal, the temporary walls of the construction dock will disappear from autumn 2026 onwards.
The dock will then be widened and deepened to approximately twelve meters. This is necessary to accommodate the largest ships. Two moorings will be created along the new quayside.
This will provide the Orcelle Terminal of Wallenius Wilhelmsen with three additional moorings for RORO ships and space for approximately 8,000 additional vehicles.
This will strengthen Port of Antwerp-Bruges’ role as the world’s largest car port.
The new dock will be ready in the first half of 2027.
