Liefkenshoektunnel

The Liefkenshoektunnel is a toll tunnel in the north of Antwerp and performs under the Scheldt through. The tunnel is part of the expressway R2. In 2009 made ​​4,197,236 cars and 2,176,658 trucks use the tunnel.

The tunnel has a length of 1374 meters. In 1987 started the construction in 1991 and opened to traffic. It has two lanes each 3.75 meters wide in each direction. ADR traffic is explicitly allowed. The maximum headroom is 5.1 meters, the width for special transports must not exceed 7.5 meters.

Cost of the tunnel use

In 2010, the toll is:

• For vehicles with a height below 2.75 m: 5.50 EUR

Or when paying with a credit card: 4.50 €

• For vehicles with a height of 2.75 m or beyond: 18,00 €

Or when paying with a credit card: 16,00 €

With its own Liefkenshoektunnel users map the costs of regular users reduce to 3.23 euros and 12.88 euros.

History

The tunnel is named after the nearby fortress Liefkenshoek. The tunnel was built from 1987 through the company NV Liefkenshoek tunnel, an association of construction companies De Meyer, Van Laere and Betonac. The opening was on 10 July 1991. The joint venture was, the right to property and the toll revenues awarded by an agreement that was concluded on 3 October 1985 to date, July 9, 2009.

Originally it was assumed that the toll revenue would amount to 16.2 billion Belgian francs. Then, the tunnel should be handed over free of charge after a period of use of 22 years, the Belgian State. However, the number of road users remained below expectations.

The company NV Liefkenshoektunnel accused the Flemish administration for the lower utilization to be responsible. You have not created the promised access roads. The first instance court informed the position of the Company NV Liefkenshoektunnel. On 30 June 1994 the decree was issued that the Flemish administration had to pay a compensation sum of 2.2 billion Belgian francs within 5 days; This was associated with a penalty interest rate of 5 million Belgian francs per day of delay. The judge condemned the administration also an income compensation in the amount of 1 billion Belgian francs on an annual basis.

On 16 May 1995, a settlement was reached. All shares in the loss-making Liefkenshoektunnel were bought for a sum of 320 million Belgian francs by the Flemish government. In addition, the administration took over the 2.2 billion compensation sum that was imposed on it in the first instance.

The tunnel consists of eight prefabricated elements, each 142 feet in length. They were towed with tugs on the Scheldt to their place of construction.

Toll free at traffic problems

In 2000, an agreement was reached that the tunnel for traffic problems on the Antwerp road network is temporarily toll free with NV Liefkenshoek. During the work on the Kennedy tunnel in 2004 and 2005, the Liefkenshoektunnel was declared several days of toll-free. Even if a serious road accident on the Antwerp ring road happens, the Liefkenshoektunnel may be declared toll-free. This decision is related to the Flemish Traffic Centre.

Railway tunnel

In September 2008, we have started the construction of two additional tunnels for the trains. Locorail, a consortium of companies from the construction companies CFE, VINCI Concessions and BAM PPP will build these two tunnels on behalf of the Belgian Infrabel. The handover is expected in 2014.