As soon as the contract for the construction of the tunnel was awarded to Van Hattum & Blankevoort – a division of VolkerWessels – in 2024, technical design manager Ralf van Leeuwen set to work in earnest. ‘Within the space of a few months, we’d put together a construction team, including people from Zuidasdok and VolkerWessels. The team combines the knowledge and expertise of two organisations. This is because building the tunnel in Zuidas is a highly complex process.’ In January 2025, the team began its most important task: creating a design for the tunnel. ‘Of course, part of it has already been devised. It’s now a question of how we build it. As well as a design, we’re also drawing up schedules and working out the logistics. We expect to have the preliminary design ready by the autumn.’ When the preliminary design has been approved, this will be followed by work on a definitive design, which will add the final touches. By then, it will almost be 2027.
Concrete box at the heart of Zuidas
Although the period set aside for developing the tunnel design may appear long, Van Leeuwen is quick to refute this. ‘Put simply, the tunnel is little more than a long concrete box. But how do you build that in the heart of Zuidas? It’s the fact that it’s such a busy environment that makes the design process so complicated. How do you create a construction pit just a few metres from existing office buildings and the A10 Zuid? Not forgetting that it’s next to a complete metro and railway station that has to stay open while the tunnel is being built! Sheet piling needs to be inserted into the ground to create a construction pit to a depth of around 10 m below street level (and 16 m below the existing A10). How do you do that safely? These are the kind of choices we’re now making.’
Patience required
Building the tunnel itself will be very time consuming, Van Leeuwen is quick to add. ‘It will definitely take a while before there’s anything for the outside world to see. The first work we will do will make it possible to move the A10 Zuid slightly closer to the tracks in 2027. That will create more space for construction. We won’t start building retaining walls or construction pits until then. As soon as they’re in place, we can start actually building the tunnel.’
Beatrixpark and Buitenveldert cemetery
The construction team is currently working on an integrated design for two tunnels: for the northern and southern tunnel in the A10 Zuid, 1,100 and 1,000 m long respectively. The northern tunnel starts at Beatrixpark and goes all the way to the Buitenveldert cemetery. The southern tunnel starts at The Pulse of Amsterdam and ends at the Goed Genoeg Sports Park.
Mid-tunnel channel and service buildings
The northern and southern tunnel will consist of two tubes; one for through-traffic and one for local traffic. Between the tubes of the tunnel, the design will include a ‘mid-tunnel channel’, serving as an evacuation route and utility corridor. ‘Safety in the tunnel is very important’, says Van Leeuwen. ‘Most of the systems installed in the tunnel are intended to guarantee this. They include fire-alarm signalling, lighting, evacuation routes and ventilation systems. The utility corridor will be full of cabling and there will be service buildings close to the tunnel entrances.’
Space for greenery and track
The tunnel will be part of a widened A10 Zuid. Between the De Nieuwe Meer and Amstel junctions, there will be two additional lanes in both directions for traffic heading to Amsterdam. The tunnel’s construction will mean that there is around 100,000 sq. m. of extra space above ground. This will make it possible to extend Amsterdam Zuid station to create a public transport hub for metro, railway, tram and bus. There will be space for a third platform, with two additional railway tracks for international railway traffic. It will also improve quality of life in the city: there will be more public space and more greenery. There will also be less (noise) disruption and the air in the centre of Zuidas will be cleaner. According to the current schedule, the southern tunnel will be completed in 2034 and the northern tunnel in 2035.
This is the first in a series about the design of the tunnel in the A10 Zuid and about the techniques and challenges involved.
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