By rosebell
In order to refloating a section of the Scheldt Tunnel after sand accumulation disrupted the immersion process two weeks ago, an operation was commenced on 1 September.
During a 48 hours operation, Client Lantis and contractor TM Cotu retrieved the 60,000-ton section from the immersion trench in the Scheldt River and returned it to Doel Dock.
Considering that the tunnel section has been on the riverbed since an unexpected sand accumulation interrupted the immersion process two weeks ago, it is going to remain in Doel Dock until the next neap tide window and is expected to be re-immersed on September 15.
According to Lantis spokesperson Laure Stuyck: “Despite thorough preparations and extensive simulations, such a sand accumulation in a highly dynamic river like the Scheldt remains an unpredictable natural phenomenon. Immersion remains an interplay of precision technology and nature. Retrieving the immersed tunnel section is a very complex operation but, in this case, it is the safest and most reliable way to position the tunnel section correctly. Our priority is that the tunnel structure is installed exactly according to the design requirements to guarantee quality and safety at all times.”
Following being towed from in the construction dock Zeebrugge, the sixth section has arrived in Antwerp and the date of submerging first tunnel section was early July.
The 1.8km-long Scheldt Tunnel is part of the Oosterweel Link, a ring road around Antwerp designed to improve links to the city and its port.
