The Flemish Agency for Roads and Traffic (AWV) officially launched the complete renovation of the Beveren Tunnel today, Monday 15 July. AWV appointed the consortium TM Bever - consisting of BESIX, BESIX Infra, BESIX Unitec, STADSBADER, STADSBADER CONTRACTORS and Equans - to undertake this project. If all goes as planned, the tunnel will be fully refurbished by late summer 2025.
“The Beveren Tunnel, located on Antwerp's R2 ring road, is a crucial economic artery in the Antwerp port area, with up to 4.75 million vehicles passing through each year. Given the increasing traffic volume and the latest European safety, technology and sustainability requirements, extensive efforts are needed to prepare this infrastructure for the future. Step by step, AWV is working on modernising its structures (bridges and tunnels) and making the road network safer. I am therefore proud that we have started the complete makeover of the Beveren Tunnel,” says Kathy Vandenmeersschaut, administrator general of the AWV.
Metamorphosis of the Beveren Tunnel
The renovation will bring significant structural and technical changes to the tunnel, both visible and not visible to its users. For example, AWV is replacing the road surface, the lighting and modernising the tunnel entrances. In addition, the tunnel will get a completely new ventilation system and the escape route will be adjusted. The service buildings will be renovated and the agency is preparing the tunnel for the challenges in the field of climate and energy. A solar panel park will be built on a green zone on the north side of the tunnel. In addition, a water treatment plant will purify 3,600,000 l of pumped groundwater per day. The collected rainwater will be returned to the protected orchids on and around the tunnel.
One-year minimum work period
Subject to favourable conditions, each tunnel tube will undergo six months of renovation work. Following the renovation, TM Bever will conduct safety tests, with the project expected to conclude by late summer 2025.
For more information on the works, visit www.wegenenverkeer.be/beverentunnel
📸 © AWV
