Liefkenshoek Tunnel
Encyclopedia
The Liefkenshoektunnel is a toll tunnel to the north of Antwerp under the River Schelde. The tunnel is a continuation of Highway R2, the ring motorway surrounding the city and harbour of Antwerp. In 2010 the tunnel was used by 6,373,894 vehicles. Positioned between the Beverentunnel and the Tijsmanstunnel, the Liefkenshoektunnel is the second of three sequential road tunnels running under the river and port installations.
The tunnel takes its name from nearby Fort Liefkenshoek. It was constructed between 1987 and 1991, and opened on 10 July 1991.
Escape doors on the right side of each bore give access to emergency exit corridors. These are separate from the ventilation and drainage ducts.
Reduced toll rates are offered to drivers prepared to pay using a credit card and an automated toll gate, as well as for drivers willing to have their cars fitted with a radio controlled device enabling tolls to be charged to their accounts without the need to stop at the toll barrier ("Teletol").
Usage and revenue were below forecast, possibly because on the Dutch
side of the nearby frontier, between Bergen op Zoom
and Dinteloord
, a projected direct four lane highway towards Rotterdam, has still never been built. The competing route through Belgium
to Rotterdam
which runs a short distance to the east via Breda
was suffering intensified congestion in 2004 due to an upgrade which has subsequently been completed.
The tunnel takes its name from nearby Fort Liefkenshoek. It was constructed between 1987 and 1991, and opened on 10 July 1991.
Specifications
The tunnel is 1.37 km (0.85) miles long. It comprises two parallel bores, each of which contains a two-lane roadway: each lane is 3.75 meters wide and the bores also include a hard shoulder. The tunnel can be used by vehicles up to 5.10 meters tall and, where exceptional loads need to be transported through it, up to 7.50 meters wide.Escape doors on the right side of each bore give access to emergency exit corridors. These are separate from the ventilation and drainage ducts.
Construction
The tunnel was constructed in eight preformed sections, each one 142 meters long, in a temporarily created dry dock nearby in what is now the location of the Vrasenedok. These sections, still sealed at the ends, were then precisely positioned using tugboats and sunk into position.Funding and tolls
Funding for the tunnel was provided by means of a ring-fenced financing provision, so that tunnel revenues would not be accessible as general local government revenues. As of 2010, the toll was set at EUR 5.50 for vehicles lower than 2.75 meters, and EUR 18 for taller vehicles. However, when the southern portion of the ring road, via the Kennedytunnel, is subject to roadworks, leading to above average congestion, tolls on the Liefkenshoektunnel may be temporarily suspended in order to encourage drivers to use the (for most destinations longer) northern ring road round Antwerp rather than the (permanently toll free) southern route.Reduced toll rates are offered to drivers prepared to pay using a credit card and an automated toll gate, as well as for drivers willing to have their cars fitted with a radio controlled device enabling tolls to be charged to their accounts without the need to stop at the toll barrier ("Teletol").
Usage
Peak usage was reached in 2004. In that year 4,676,441 passenger car journeys and 2,434,496 commercial vehicle journeys were undertaken through the tunnel. In 2009, with the tolls increased by 10% for passenger cars from EUR 5.00 to EUR 5.50 and by 6% from EUR 17.00 for larger vehicles, usage had actually declined by over 10% to 4,197,236 passenger car journeys and 2,176,658 commercial vehicle journeys.Usage and revenue were below forecast, possibly because on the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
side of the nearby frontier, between Bergen op Zoom
Bergen op Zoom
Bergen op Zoom is a municipality and a city located in the south of the Netherlands.-History:Bergen op Zoom was granted city status probably in 1266. In 1287 the city and its surroundings became a lordship as it was separated from the lordship of Breda. The lordship was elevated to a margraviate...
and Dinteloord
Dinteloord
Dinteloord is a village in the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant.The village has 5,600 inhabitants Dinteloord is known because of the sugarplant that it houses, and the Muza festivals that have been held for over 50 years.- History :...
, a projected direct four lane highway towards Rotterdam, has still never been built. The competing route through Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
to Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
which runs a short distance to the east via Breda
Breda
Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. The name Breda derived from brede Aa and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. As a fortified city, the city was of strategic military and political significance...
was suffering intensified congestion in 2004 due to an upgrade which has subsequently been completed.