Oosterweel Link in Antwerp may not be completed until 2033
Work on the Oosterweel Link in Antwerp may not be fully completed until 2033, construction manager Lantis confirmed on Wednesday. Issues such as PFAS remediation and the long lead time for permits are causing delays.
The Oosterweel Link is a redesign of the motorway around Antwerp to improve access to the city and port. It was first proposed in 1997, but actual construction only started in 2018, with a planned completion date of 2030.
Lantis said that the tunnel between the left and right banks of the Scheldt and the Oosterweel junction in the north of the city are still on schedule for 2030, as is the Oosterweel Link itself, which will be opened to traffic while the rest of the links in the area are completed. The delay would be elsewhere, such as in the area of the Merksem viaduct, which is yet to be demolished.
PFAS problems
In an announcement, Lantis gave several reasons for the expected delay. "The first is PFAS and the lack of a legally secure framework around it," referring to the area around Zwijndrecht polluted by 3M's plant. "Not only did the left bank and Zwijndrecht plants face PFAS problems, but the right bank plants were also found to have historical PFAS contamination."
Additional preparations were needed, Lantis explained, such as additional site investigations, studies on possible solutions and the installation of water treatment plants. The complexity of moving PFAS-contaminated soil also played a role in the delays.
Complex permits
A second set of delaying factors revolves around permitting, according to the construction manager. "The complexity of these has only increased in the last few years, which also affects the design," the construction manager said. Finally, additional canopies were added to the plans as the work progressed.
Despite the complications, Lantis still hopes to complete the work before 2033. On the left bank, for example, the work could be completed more quickly than originally planned. "We are all more than 100 per cent committed to keeping the commissioning schedule as tight as possible," says Lantis.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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