Western Scheldt Tunnel

The Westerschelde Tunnel is 6.6 km, the longest road tunnel in the Netherlands. It crosses the Westerschelde and connects the peninsula Zuid- Beveland with the mainland lying on the Zeeland Flanders. It replaces the former ferry between Vlissingen and Breskens and between Kruiningen and Perkpolder.

History

The Westerschelde Tunnel was opened on 14 March 2003 and is a toll road. The tunnel is operated by NV Westerschelde tunnel and one of 95.4 % of the Dutch Ministry of Transport and Public Works, and to 4.6% of the province of Zeeland.

The road tunnel consists of two tubes, each with two lanes. He was dug with two tunnel boring machines. Every 250 meters are the two tubes connected by cross passages. The doors in the tunnels can be opened automatically in case of danger, at the same time the left oncoming lane is blocked in the other tube, so that people can safely escape into this tube.

The construction period was just over two years and geologically difficult conditions had to be overcome in particular to the more than 30 m deep navigation channel Pas van Terneuzen, a tunnel depth of up to 60 m below sea level in consideration of a maximum water pressure of 6.5 bar for all tunnel elements required made ​​. At the south end of the tunnel is 1200 meters long slope of 4.5%. The maximum headroom is 4.30 m. Near Borssele is for both directions " toll " collected. For pedestrians and cyclists, the tunnel is locked, you can use the bus, which runs through the tunnel. Due to built-in mobile phones, antennas work the entire tunnel area.

Toll Rate

In 2006, a citizens' initiative has formed, which is to prevent the tunnel sale, and requests that the tunnel is toll-free.

Because today the prices will be adjusted on a regular basis, this initiative was probably not successful.

The prices have been adjusted. In July 2009

  • Cars: € 4.70
  • Car with trailer € 7.00
  • Vans, RVs and buses € 17.20
  • Large truck € 23.50

In April 2010:

  • Cars: € 4.80
  • Car with trailer € 7.15
  • Vans, RVs and buses € 17.50
  • Large truck € 24.00

In April 2011:

  • Cars: € 4.90
  • Car with trailer € 7.30
  • Vans, RVs and buses € 17.85
  • Large truck € 24.50

In March 2012:

  • Cars € 5.00
  • Car with trailer € 7.45
  • Vans, RVs and buses € 18.20
  • Large truck € 25.00
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