The Flemish Government finally approved the project decision for the Western Access to the Waaslandhaven (WOW) project. By doing so, the government is kicking off the next phase: the implementation phase. The search for a contractor will now begin.
On 18 July, the Flemish Government took the decision in principle to finally adopt the project decision for the Western Access to the Waaslandhaven (WOW). Advice was then sought from the Council of State. Once the Council of State's opinion had been received, the Flemish Government finally adopted the WOW project decision on Friday 24 October.
What exactly does WOW entail?
The Western Access to the Waaslandhaven (WOW) subproject aims to ensure that the port is easily accessible by road, rail and bicycle. In specific terms, it involves constructing a new road to the west of the port on the left bank of the Scheldt. This will connect the port to the main traffic routes. What is more, improved rail connections will also be provided in order to transport containers and goods to and from the port on the left bank of the Scheldt more rapidly and more efficiently. Finally, better and faster bicycle connections are being built, both for commuters and recreational cyclists. A landscape buffer will provide shielding from traffic noise and a visual separation in the direction of the polder.
"This is an important milestone in this project. The making of plans is over. Now, we can start putting those plans into action. The port on the left bank of the Scheldt is a driving force of our economy and by constructing the Western Access to the Waaslandhaven, we are ensuring that the port is more accessible. We are doing that by paying significant attention to the balance between the economy, nature and the living environment. We are investing in economic progress while improving mobility and quality of life."
Annick De Ridder, Flemish Minister of Mobility, Public Works, Ports and Sport.
Improved accessibility
The Western Access project is part of the complex project Extra Container Handling Capacity Antwerp (ECA). WOW will ensure that containers entering the port via the new tidal dock will be transported smoothly and sustainably. In order to build an additional container dock, it will first of all be necessary to optimise the road network in the port on the left bank of the Scheldt. The Western Access to the Waaslandhaven will also provide a necessary improvement to the accessibility of the existing sites in the port on the left bank of the Scheldt to and from the main traffic network. This is one of the reasons why this project decision is seen as a stand-alone project decision, which, though it forms part of the complex project ECA, it is not purely dependent on the other components of ECA.
Before freight traffic from the new dock can drive onto this Western Access, it will need to be connected to the E34. That project is not part of ECA, but it is an important condition that is included in the dock's permit This will optimise mobility around the port on the left bank of the Scheldt.
Contractor to be chosen in 2026
This project will be realised using the procedure for complex projects. That procedure allows plans and permits to be prepared together, in an integrated process. Now that the project decision has been adopted, the implementation phase can begin. If everything goes smoothly, the contractor will be chosen in 2026 from the five applications resulting from the selection procedures. According to the current schedule, the first works could begin in 2027. The works will take about four years to complete.
Project decision available for inspection
The project decision will be available for inspection for a period of 30 days at the Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht town hall. The decision can also be accessed digitally, on ECA's website.
You can also find full information about the Western Access to the Waaslandhaven and ECA on the ECA website.
The ECA project is a collaboration between the Flemish Government's Department of Mobility and Public Works, Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Maatschappij Linkerscheldeoever.