- Liefkenshoek Tunnel
The Liefkenshoek Tunnel is a toll tunnel to the north of
Antwerp under the River Schelde. The tunnel is a continuation of Highway R2, the ring motorway surrounding the city and harbour of Antwerp. In 2007 the tunnel was used by 6,505,284 vehicles [cite web|url=http://www.liefkenshoektunnel.be/content/liefkenshoektunnel/site/9036|title= Traffic statistics on Tunnel website|accessdate=2008-07-12|language=Flemish ] . Positioned between the Beveren Tunnel and the Tijsmans Tunnel, the Liefenshoek Tunnel is the second of three sequential road tunnels running under the river and port installations.Funding for the tunnel was provided by means of a ring-fenced financing provision, so that tunnel revenues would not be accessible as general local government revenues. As of 2008, toll is set at EUR 5 for vehicles lower than 2.75 meters, and EUR 17 for tall vehicles [cite web|url=http://www.liefkenshoektunnel.be/content/liefkenshoektunnel/site/?id=2982|title=toll rates|accessdate=2008-07-12|language=Flemish ] . However, when the southern portion of the ring road, via the
Kennedy Tunnel , is subject to roadworks, leading to above average congestion, tolls on the Liefkenshoek Tunnel may be temporarily suspended in order to encourage drivers to use the (for most destinations longer) northern ring road round Antwerp rather than the (permanently toll free) southern route.The tunnel takes its name from nearby Fort Liefkenshoek. It was constructed between 1987 and 1991, and opened on
10 July 1991 . Usage and revenue were below forecast, possibly because on the Dutch side of the nearby frontier, betweenBergen op Zoom andDinteloord , a projected direct four lane highway towards Rotterdam, has never been built.References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
