Because workers found more asbestos than expected in previously inaccessible areas, renovation work on the Antwerp premetro tunnel between the Left and Right Banks has been delayed by 3 months.
The work is now not expected to be completed until July 2027. The alternatives offered since the closure will remain available until then. These include shuttle buses, additional bus trips, the temporary train station on Left Bank, and bicycle, walking, and waterway connections.
Insidious asbestos
The asbestos was found beneath concrete elements and behind walls. Removing it requires additional safety measures, which take extra time and delay other work.
The large-scale renovation began in May of this year, after having been postponed for years due to policy and/or budgetary decisions. Among other things, De Lijn is upgrading the tracks, tunnels, and various above-and below-ground systems, which have needed renovation for years – some parts of the subway system are now more than 50 years old.
Work is progressing well
The demolition phase has now been completed. Over the past few months, crews removed 6 km of track and overhead lines, among other items. In addition, 5,250 cubic meters of ballast bed were removed, 500 cubic meters of concrete boxes were demolished, and 7,000 square meters of fire-resistant spray coating were removed.
The contractor also removed or dismantled fire sprinkler lines, ventilation systems, cables, and pipes. He has also already carried out concrete repair and waterproofing work.
Not practical for 10 Miles participants
Among other things, the delay appears to be bad news for the Antwerp 10 Miles on April 18, 2027, since the construction work would normally have allowed the many thousands of participants and supporters to use the premetro again by then. Due to the renovation, there is no tram service between the Melsele P+R on the Left Bank and the Opera metro station on the Right Bank.
Golazo, the organizer of the Antwerp 10 Miles, plans to bring all relevant (mobility)partners together in the coming days to find a solution. This year, the 10 Miles attracted a record 50,000 participants and tens of thousands more supporters along the course.
Impact during Christmas period?
The city of Antwerp, among others, is asking De Lijn to take additional measures due to the delay. Antwerp’s alderman for Mobility, Koen Kennis (N-VA), highlights in particular the impact during the Christmas period, when a limited tram service between Left Bank and the city center had been planned.
Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works Annick De Ridder (N-VA) says she is “not amused” by the delay. She says she immediately instructed De Lijn to develop additional measures to minimize disruption “in the very near future,” with special attention to the end-of-year period. “That’s precisely when people need to be able to continue reaching the city smoothly and comfortably,” the minister said.
