New lock in Zeebrugge: leverage for the economy of the port and the region

After submitting the tender for the preliminary design study, the infrastructure of the new lock and the new Nx-tunnel were studied last year. The aim was to present a concept design for all new infrastructures. This study included the quay walls of the outer harbour, the marina and the inner harbour, the tunnel, as well as the lock itself. For the quay walls, various types were examined and calculated in order to arrive at an optimal solution in terms of execution, environmental impact and sustainability. For the tunnel, the study focused on the location and phasing of the works. Various options were considered, such as a tunnel next to the lock, a tunnel at a certain distance from the lock or a tunnel under the lock.

At the moment, several options are still being considered to connect the Nx-tunnel to the existing roads. These alternatives for the roads west and east of the lock have been updated in the project research paper and further elaborated into concept drawings. The first technical drawings for the alternatives for the lock are ready and an estimate of the price and the phasing of the construction was made to serve as input for the environmental impact report and the social cost-benefit analysis. This further research should ultimately result in a single integrated project decision, after which the actual construction can begin. The complex project New Lock Zeebrugge (NSZ), with the full title "Improvement of nautical accessibility to the (inner) port of Zeebrugge" is an extensive and important project, not only for the PWW department, but also for other departments within Tractebel such as infra, equipments and our partners.