NV Westerscheldetunnel Investigation into the damage in the Westerscheldetunnel
In association with
Broadcasting Zeeland
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 14:28
There is a thirty meter crack in the Western Scheldt tunnel. A two meter long fracture was also found. Although the crack and the break must eventually be repaired, the tunnel will remain open for traffic for the time being, NV Westerscheldetunnel reports.
The damage was noticed at the end of last year during a maintenance service. Since then, research has been done and it has been determined that there is no acute threat. The crack has probably been there for years. However, the situation is worrying and the damage is being monitored with measuring equipment, writes Broadcasting Zeeland.
The damage is greater halfway through the crack, where the concrete has broken. “In the event of a crack, the reinforced concrete still does what it is intended to do,” says Harald Schoenmakers, director of NV Westerscheldetunnel against Omroep Zeeland. “In the event of a fracture, the concrete is weakened. Surrounding tunnel segments must absorb the pressure.”
NV WesterscheldetunnelThe break in the Westerscheldetunnel
The concrete damage is located at the exit of the tunnel on Zuid-Beverland.
NV WesterscheldetunnelThe location of the damage
The cause of the damage is not yet known. It seems to have no effect on other parts of the tunnel. “We have made a scan of the entire tunnel, which shows that there are no other weak spots,” says Schoenmakers.
A research team will present results at the end of September. Then it is decided how and when the crack and fracture will be repaired. It will then also become clear to what extent road users will be inconvenienced.
2023-08-31 12:28:19
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