Belgian construction group BESIX has confirmed the commencement of demolition works on the Merksem viaduct in Antwerp, initiating a significant phase in the wider Oosterweel Link project.

The structure, which had stood for 55 years, is being dismantled to make way for a lowered section of the city’s ring road.

The plan aims to direct traffic underground and is intended to alter major transport routes around Antwerp.

Over the coming months, crews will remove 11 bridge sections in a sequence designed to prioritise safety and efficiency.

Demolition will begin with the extraction of street lighting, road surface materials, and safety barriers, before continuing with the deck and supporting columns.

On-site teams are continuously measuring noise levels and vibrations; actions will be taken if they exceed permitted limits.

Equipment such as noise barriers and misting systems are in operation to mitigate disturbances during the works, added the company.

Materials from the demolition are being processed on-site for later reuse, reflecting a resource management strategy for the project.

A temporary motorway, known as the Bypass, is in place to manage traffic flow during construction.

The first part of the Oosterweel Link, serving vehicles travelling towards the Netherlands, opened on 25 October, providing an alternative that diverts cars away from residential areas and helps maintain access.

Work will continue on a narrower Bypass section oriented towards Ghent, which is projected for full use by traffic between Antwerp-East and Antwerp-North from 2027 onwards.

This development will allow complete removal of the existing viaduct infrastructure.

The demolition marks a transition in Antwerp’s urban environment by eliminating a longstanding barrier and making new land available that can later be integrated into surrounding neighbourhoods.

The initiative forms part of the largest component within the Oosterweel Link project and is managed by the contractor consortium TM ROCO, comprising BESIX, BESIX Infra, Cordeel, DENYS, Jan De Nul, DEME, Willemen Infra, Van Laere, and Franki Construct.

Alongside replacing the viaduct with a sunken road and creating the Bypass, TM ROCO is also constructing canal tunnels.

BESIX is also involved in the Scheldt Tunnel work under THV COTU while BESIX Unitec is in charge of tunnel technical installations across the Oosterweel Link.