Breakthrough of the second Liefkenshoek tunnel

11 October 2011 - Events - Belgium

On 23 July, in Antwerp (Belgium), after a 17-month drive, the pressurised-mud TBM Schanulleke broke through the second Liefkenshoek tunnel (length: 6 km). Following this major milestone, the works will continue inside the tunnels, notably involving the creation of the connecting tunnels (3 have been completed to date, out of a total of 13), using ground freezing techniques, and 8 evacuation shafts. In addition to the two parallel tunnels, the new infrastructure includes a rail platform made of backfill (4.76 km), a cut-and-cover section (4.27 km) and the existing but never used Beveren tunnel (1.2 km), which has had to be renovated and upgraded.

It is being created within the framework of a PPP secured in November 2008 by the consortium composed of VINCI Concessions, CFE (VINCI Construction) and BAM PPP. This contract covers the financing, design, construction and maintenance for 42 years of a 16.2 km-long dual-track railway infrastructure passing under the Escaut river to link the north and south banks of the port of Antwerp.

The works, worth 680 million euros, are being supplied by VINCI Construction Grands Projets, MBG (CFE) and two companies from the Dutch group Royal BAM, with the participation of Soletanche Bachy and its subsidiary Fontec, both Soletanche Freyssinet entities (VINCI Construction), and CFE subsidiaries (notably Stevens, Engema and Aannemingen Van Wellen).
The new link is due to come into service in 2014.