Lange Wapper: Antwerp’s controversial bridge

The Lange Wapper bridge in Antwerp (Belgium) might become one of the biggest and most impressive bridges in Belgium. If is ever gets built, it will be a 1,5 kilometers long cable-stayed bridge with 2 motorway levels over a harbor area called “Het Eilandje”. The 2 pylons will be 110 meters high. The bridge will have a curve, which is not common for this kind of bridges.

It will be part of the controversial planned highway ”Oosterweel-connection” that should complete Antwerp’s ring with the Lange Wapper bridge and a tunnel under the Scheldt river.

The newspaper Flanders Today reports:

Critics oppose the viaduct on the grounds of environmental damage and noise and emissions pollution. Straten-Generaal, whose alternative plan is the most viable alternative, proposes an extended tunnel and a road through the port area which would avoid residential areas and rejoin the Antwerp ring at a more northerly point.

The cost was an argument in favour of the bridge, whose price was estimated to be around €500 million, and a tunnel was considered too expensive. Since then the estimated cost has risen to more than €2.5 billion.

The "Oosterweelconnection" planned highway

Engineering

Arcadis (the same company that designed the Milau Viaduct) is in charge of the project. Here is what they say about it:

Challenge
Antwerp, commercial heart of Belgium and second largest port of Europe. A continuous flow of traffic to and from the port and docks crosses the city over the beltway. International traffic axes lead through the heart of the city. Daily commuter traffic. All resulting in traffic jams that over the years have become insolvable. The Antwerp master plan needs to improve mobility. The plan focuses on completing the Antwerp beltway. Final pieces are a tunnel under the Scheldt River and – the masterpiece – a bridge over the docklands. The Lange Wapper.

Approach
While ARCADIS’ Belgian engineers through the consortium TV Sam coordinate construction works for the complex master plan, their French counterparts deliver the concept for the Lange Wapper. Yet another technical tour de force of ARCADIS. A cable-stayed bridge, 2.4 kilometres long, supported by five 110-meter pillars. Solid and slim, while elegant at the same time. A cost- and space-saving double-deck construction: each deck consisting of three lanes plus an emergency lane. Seamless access to Antwerp, the port and the southern part of the beltway.

Result
A city in motion. Enhanced mobility. But, what’s more, the eye-catching Lange Wapper. A new icon to the city.