Oosterweel Link (R1 Antwerp)

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jackal
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Oosterweel Link (R1 Antwerp)

Post by jackal »

This is a multi-billion euro project to complete the Antwerp Ring Road to motorway standard. It will fill the "missing" northern quarter with three lanes in each direction. Running roughly east to west its main elements are:

- The Oosterweel junction: a mostly underground three-arm interchange with the R1/E19. I've not found plans but I assume this is some kind of directional T.
- R1 North: much of the R1 North adjoining the interchange will be placed underground, with the Merksem viaduct removed. The R1 is widened to as much as D6M approaching the Oosterweel junction. The junctions are reconstructed, with some exotic designs including an offside entry/exit pair. A "temporary R1-north motorway" is being provided while this is happening.
- Channel Tunnels: 2.5km quad tubes, 2 in each direction, stacked for a 2×2 configuration. There will be three lanes plus HS in each direction as follows: "The northern Channel Tunnels will have one lane and an emergency lane. The southern tunnel tubes will each have two lanes".
- Scheldt Tunnel: 1.8km twin tubes, 3 lanes each direction (no HS) plus 6m cycle tunnel. Also of note is the "paperclip" junction located between the Channel and Scheldt tunnels.
- Left bank and Zwijndrecht: This section is now largely complete. Two directional Ts on the E34 (with Charles de Costerlaan and the E17) have been rebuilt as semi-directional Ts - the new road plugs into the northern of the two with Charles de Costerlaan disconnected. Widening up to D4M.

It's certainly a very impressive project overall. British readers might be surprised to see a motorway like this being built in a city in 2024 (it's more like the A6120 than the M60 in terms of proximity to the centre). But there is a lot of mitigation. Interestingly the tunnels appear to be immersed tube or cut and cover rather than bored.

As with the Brussels Ring project, there seems to be a "money is no object" approach and a (contractor-led?) determination to rebuild every junction they come across. One might wonder whether, e.g., the existing directional T at E34/Charles de Costerlaan would have been sufficient (there seems to be no saving in land take from that rebuild). But there's certainly a lot of strategic value to completing the ring.

You can see more info here: https://www.oosterweelverbinding.be/het ... l#media486

Click "Where will the Scheldt Tunnel be located?" for interactive map and "Future vision" for info on different sections.
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Bryn666
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Re: Oosterweel Link (R1 Antwerp)

Post by Bryn666 »

It's a very ambitious project; the gap in R1 has always been a problem for traffic in Antwerp (R2 is overloaded and tolled) because it is the main route for freight and international traffic from the rest of Benelux towards Calais, etc. Along with the new A11/N49 corridor to Zeebrugge, the aim is to redistribute heavy flows away from current choke points.

Antwerp itself is going to undergo massive transformation to discourage driving in the city proper; hence the provision of park and ride sites with a network of new greenways where you can hire bikes to use.

It's a great example of joined up thinking as opposed to the idiotic silo thinking applied in the UK.
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