Construction of the Channel Tunnels, a key element of Antwerp’s Oosterweel Link project in Belgium, entered a new phase as the first concrete was poured for the tunnel floor beneath the Albert Canal.
The pouring of concrete on 13 May 2026 signalled the start of tunnel construction after several years of preparatory activities at the site.
Antwerp’s Channel Tunnels are being constructed by TM ROCO, a consortium made up of BESIX, BESIX Infra and several other contractors, for client Lantis.
The tunnels will create a direct route for traffic between the Port of Antwerp, the northern part of the city, and the Antwerp Ring Road, running underneath the Albert Canal.
According to BESIX, the structure includes four tubes, arranged in pairs, and will stretch over approximately 2.5km.
The construction required the creation of a large dry work zone within the Albert Canal. Crews installed retaining walls before filling the area with sand, which was later removed to reveal an excavation about 29m deep, a depth roughly equivalent to a ten-storey building.
BESIX employee and TM ROCO project manager Jeroen Philtjens said: “Every two weeks, around 20m of tunnel are added, allowing the site to move forward in a controlled way and enabling us to deliver a 2.5km tunnel within a few years. We call that the 'concrete train'.
“Thanks to a tight and repeatable working rhythm, we can build the tunnel step by step. We start at the Havenhuis and work towards the Oosterweel junction, after which we also head in the other direction towards the Noorderlaan bridge.”
The Channel Tunnels aim to divert traffic underneath the canal to mitigate local impact and manage traffic flow. Their completion will form a significant part of the Oosterweel Link, which is designed to improve mobility and increase access to Antwerp and its port facilities.
According to project plans, the first vehicles are expected to travel through the finished tunnels by 2033, coinciding with the overall completion of the Oosterweel Link.
The TM ROCO consortium also includes Cordeel, DEME, Denys, Van Laere, Willemen Bouw, Willemen Infra and Jan De Nul.
