16/09/2024
In Belgium, Fontec wins lot 3A of the Oosterweel road project in Anvers.
Our subsidiary in Belgium, Fontec, has won the contract for the Oosterweelknoop (OWK) tunnel. This lot is part of the major Oosterweel project, which aims to build a road interchange near Anvers and improve traffic flow for the region’s inhabitants.
The Oosterweel project involves the construction of a road interchange between the E17 and E34 freeways, which will also complete the ring road around the city of Antwerp. The OWK tunnel is the third lot of the project. Owner Lantis represents the Flemish region, and our subsidiary Fontec is acting as subcontractor for the Rinkoniên consortium (Artes / Mobilis TBI / Boskalis / CIT Blaton / Stadsbader).
Work began in August 2024 and will last approximately two and a half years.
The OWK tunnel
The tunnel will be constructed using Diaphragm walls, anchored in Boom clay at a depth of around 26 m, to provide a horizontal support for working in open excavation, and a watertight screen to prevent the tunnels from rising due to water in the surrounding soil. Around 110,000 m² of Diaphragm walls will be installed, ranging in thickness from 800 to 1,500 mm.
To ensure the stability of the walls, 3,350 Anchors (up to 51 m long) will also be required. More than two-thirds of the Anchors will be drilled below the water table, through a sluice. Service pulls will reach 1,400 kN. The test block for the Anchors was built upstream: 14 IRS Anchors with test pulls of up to 3,000 kN.
Congratulations to the teams on the acquisition of this lot!
Since 2021, Fontec and Bachy Belgium have been involved in several works on the Oosterweel project:
- In 2021, more than 18,195 m² of Grouts walls for lot 1;
- In 2022, as part of the renovation of the lock between Escaut and the docks in the port of Anvers, 23,800 m² of Grouts walls, 2,100 m² of Diaphragm walls, 668 Anchors, and Jet grouting.
