Major Milestone: Permit Granted for the Northern Ring Capping in Antwerp

October 2026, Antwerp

Infrastructure developer Lantis has officially been granted the environmental and building permit for the comprehensive capping (overkapping) of the northern section of the Antwerp Ring. This crucial milestone marks a major step forward within the Toekomstverbond (Future Alliance) framework, combining large-scale civil engineering with urban liveability and environmental restoration.

Integrating Infrastructure and Urban Greenery

While the foundational “mother permit” granted in 2020 enabled the ongoing excavation and construction of the Oosterweelverbinding (including the iconic Scheldetunnel and the deep Ring configuration) this new permit legally incorporates five major additional capping sections designed in close collaboration with the city and civic movements.

The approved caps including Kap Groen Hart, Kap Kalverwei, Kap Schijnvallei, and extensions for Kap Dam and Kap Hof ter Lo, will stitch back together neighborhoods historically divided by the highway. By routing traffic underground, the project significantly reduces noise and air pollution while creating extensive new parks, public recreational spaces, and active-mobility corridors (including dedicated new bicycle and pedestrian bridges over the infrastructure).

Experience Mega-Infrastructure Up Close at WTC2027

Projects of this magnitude showcase the pinnacle of modern underground space utilisation, urban tunnelling, and complex stakeholder coordination.

The ITA WTC2027 delegates will have exclusive opportunities to explore these groundbreaking construction sites firsthand during our specialized technical site visits.