23 January 2024

Renovation Beverentunnel

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From May 2024, the Agency for Roads and Traffic (AWV) will start preparatory work for a total renovation of the Beveren Tunnel (R2). The tunnel is outdated and in urgent need of renewal. The TM Bever consortium, consisting of contractors BESIX, BESIX Infra, BESIX Unitec, STADSBADER, STADSBADER CONTRACTORS and Equans, has been appointed by AWV to steer the renovation in the right direction.

 

"In Flanders, we are struggling with a historic maintenance backlog on our bridges and tunnels. During this legislature, I have been working on a plan of action for 2020-2030 to structurally eliminate it in the coming years and I am allocating unprecedented amounts of money for it. Specifically for the Beveren Tunnel, this is about 125 million euros. This concerns both structural innovations and adjustments to the tunnel techniques. AWV is adapting the road surface and lighting and modernising the appearance of the tunnel mouths. In addition, the agency is preparing the tunnel for the climate and energy challenges of the future with the installation of a water treatment plant and a solar park that should provide half of the power capacity," said Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works Lydia Peeters.

Image: © AWV

Contractor consortium appointed, environmental permit obtained

On 10 November 2023, the Flemish Government gave the green light to continue the procedure. In the meantime, AWV was able to officially appoint the TM Bever consortium and the environmental permit was obtained on 22 December 2023. This means that the renovation can get off to a flying start.

"The TM Bever consortium, consisting of BESIX, BESIX Infra, BESIX Unitec, STADSBADER, STADSBADER CONTRACTORS and Equans, is particularly proud to have been selected for the design and renovation of the Beveren Tunnel, as well as for the realisation, operation and maintenance of a water treatment plant and solar park. This will be for a period of three years. Within the consortium, BESIX and STADSBADER CONTRACTORS are responsible for the civil works, BESIX Infra and STADSBADER for the road works and BESIX Unitec and Equans for the electromechanical works. We look forward to developing this project together as full partners. Our combined experience and expertise strengthens our ambition to deliver this important link in the Antwerp port area successfully, on time and in a safe manner to the Agency for Roads and Traffic, which we would like to thank for their trust," says the contractor consortium.

TM Bever is currently drawing up a detailed schedule and making the necessary preparations. If all goes according to plan, work on the diversion road will start in May 2024. The ambition is to start the actual renovation from July 2024.

Participation with port companies

The Beveren Tunnel is located in the middle of the port of Antwerp. The port authorities in the immediate and wider vicinity will be impacted by the works. Together with Voka - Chamber of Commerce Antwerp-Waasland, Alfaport-Voka and the directly impacted companies, a number of participation moments were completed. It was examined how the nuisance could be limited as much as possible for all parties involved.