Liefkenshoek rail link. Antwerp | Belgium

A Solution for Antwerp's Growing Freight Traffic

The Liefkenshoek rail link, currently the biggest infrastructural project in Belgium, is forging ahead in the Port of Antwerp since its start in November 2008. Connecting the port installations on the left bank of the River Scheldt and the Antwerp-North main railway hub on the right bank, it will provide a solution for the growing freight traffic in this area. 

The 16.2 km long double-track railroad will contain two side by side single-track tunnels undercrossing the river Scheldt and the B1-B2 Canal Dock. The tunnels with an internal diameter of 7.3 m will be created by Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) over a distance of 6 km each.

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Liefkenshoek Rail Link
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The contractor Locobouw consortium designed an alternative solution using steel sheet piles that enabled to reduce the construction time and to avoid the six months long hindrance for the shipping traffic in the dock. Locobouw proposed and executed a 270 m long and 32.5 m wide sheet pile wall excavation pit. As the silt has a very low natural slope, this permitted to reduce the dredging material substantially from the original 160,000 m³ down to 60,000 m³.

The sheet piles were cut off under water by divers at the upper level of the silt immediately after driving. The top portions were recovered and bought back by ArcelorMittal (1,192 tonnes). The 540 m of wall were driven in 8 weeks time only. 

The project is on track, and the first train is scheduled to undercross the Canal Dock by mid 2014. Even though the steel sheet pile alternative induced some challenges, like cutting the sheet piles under water, dredging in-between the sheet pile walls and concreting below water, these challenges were mastered by Locobouw in a very professional way. 

The result is a safer solution for all stakeholders: project owner, TBM workers and Canal Dock users.