Contractor TM Cotu began building the elements in a large construction dock in Zeebrugge in January 2023. Over the next few months the elements will be made watertight before being towed to Antwerp via the North Sea next year. Four tug boats will accompany the towing boat.
A total of 200,000m³ of concrete and 50,000 tons of steel were used for the tunnel elements. Each element weighs around 60,000 tons and consists of two tubes for vehicle traffic, a service lane and a 6m-wide bike lane.
The 1.8km-long Scheldt Tunnel, which is due to open in 2028, is part of the Oosterweel Link, a ring road around Antwerp designed improve links to the city and its port.
