From January 11, 2027, some current users of the Westerscheldetunnel will have the opportunity to travel back and forth through the tunnel. By using a system of regulated alternating traffic, traffic will flow through the single available tube alternating each hour: one hour from Terneuzen towards Borsele, the next from Borsele towards Terneuzen. Due to limited capacity, a system of restrictions and reservations will be applied.
On January 11, repairs will begin on the concrete damage in the East tube of the Westerscheldetunnel. This is expected to take four months. During this period, only the West tube will be available for traffic. In recent months, the Province of Zeeland, NV Westerscheldetunnel, the municipalities of Borsele and Terneuzen, and the Zeeland Safety Region have closely collaborated to determine the best usage. Various traffic scenarios have been examined for robustness, safety, and capacity.
Support for alternating traffic
A choice was made between two permitable variants: alternating traffic with regulated access and one-way north-south traffic with a limited convoy once per hour from south to north. The alternating traffic variant was chosen, where the West tube is used for traffic in both directions divided into time blocks. Discussions with stakeholders (healthcare, education, logistics, business) showed broad support for this solution. Additionally, Flemish organizations indicated that detouring via Antwerp is very limited.
I realize that the repair of the Westerscheldetunnel has a significant impact on Zeeland residents and businesses, says Deputy Harry van der Maas. To offer perspective, we will fully focus on providing as many alternative options as possible. Furthermore, I believe that alternating traffic is a good solution for using the West tube.
Series of accessibility measures
To keep the region accessible, a significant traffic reduction is necessary. This requires a joint effort from governments, employers, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, logistics parties, and residents. Together, we must focus on limiting non-essential travel, encouraging working from home, spreading working hours, organizing collective transport, optimally using public transport and the ferry, and timely preparing shift work, school hours, and logistics chains.
In the coming weeks, the reservation system will be further developed. Who will be allowed through the tunnel? Which traffic is vital for society? And how can a time slot be reserved? The challenge is to spread traffic for which there is still space as much as possible. Clarity on this will be provided by May 1 at the latest. Organizing this form of alternating traffic is a challenge. If it turns out during preparation that alternating traffic is not feasible, the fallback option is one-way traffic with a convoy.