Westerscheldetunnel, the entity operating the Westerschelde tunnel and Sluiskil tunnel, has awarded a multi-year contract for the maintenance and renovation of the Sluiskil tunnel.
The contract was awarded to a consortium comprising Dutch construction and infrastructure company BAM Infra Netherlands and the TBI companies Croonwolter&dros and Mobilis.
The maintenance contract, valid from 23 May 2025 to 13 March 2033, involves both daily maintenance and end-of-life replacements to maintain the tunnel safe and accessible.
It includes both preventive and corrective multi-year maintenance on the Sluiskil Tunnel complex, including the surrounding aerial.
Also, the BAM-TBI consortium will replace the asphalt and make several renovations to the technical installations and the civil parts of the tunnel.
NV Westerscheldetunnel managing director Harald Schoenmakers said: “I am very pleased with the outcome of the tender. We know the parties as very knowledgeable and have full confidence in the cooperation.”
Sluiskil is a twin-bore tunnel that runs under the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal in the Netherlands, connecting Westerscheldetunnel in the south to the E34 motorway in the north.
According to BAM, Sluiskil plays an important role in the economic growth of the region, as it increases the flow and accessibility of companies and homes in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.
The tunnel facilitates the flow of freight traffic to and from the port of Antwerp, where an average of 21,000 vehicles passes through the tunnel each working day.
The contract award extends Westerscheldetunnel’s relation with the BAM-TBI consortium, which has been responsible for maintaining the Sluiskil Tunnel since its opening in 2015.
In addition, Croonwolter&dros, Mobilis, and BAM have worked on the maintenance of the Westerschelde Tunnel since 2013.
Furthermore, BAM-TBI consortium has selected sustainable options for the contract, such as Low Energy Asphalt Concrete (LEAB) and the reuse of materials.
BAM/TBI consortium project manager Jarno Alting said: “We bring together the knowledge and expertise of BAM and TBI to keep the Sluiskil tunnel safely and sustainably available 24/7 in the coming years.
“In one team, we effectively bring all disciplines together in an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to anticipate this maintenance and renovation task.
“With the award of the maintenance and renovation of the Sluiskil tunnel, we refine even more our knowledge and expertise in this area and we also put our expertise on a sustainable approach.”
