By rosebell
Followig commencing construction of work islands in the Albert Canal in May last year, currently contractor TM Roco has started the concrete works for the tunnels and concrete works are undergoing for Belgium’s Oosterweel Channel Tunnels.
Linking the future Oosterweel junction in Antwerp Port with the Oosterweel Ring, the tunnels for the road project are going to run under the Albert Canal.
With the aim of creating a construction pit for the tunnels, TM Roco, which comprises Besix, Stadsbader Contractors, Deme Group and Jan De Nul, is building 4.7km of deep walls in the subsurface.
By holding back soil and water, the reinforced concrete walls will protect the environment, while keeping the groundwater level stable, even outside the construction zone.
Excavating a trench up to 60m deep, that is the deepest point of the entire Oosterweel works, the walls are created and the trench is then due to be filled with steel reinforcement cages and concrete.
Additionally, cofferdams have been built to separate the works site and the Albert Canal in recent months.
