Horizontal directional drilling to increase the capacity of the Albert Canal

As part of the efforts to increase the capacity of the Albert Canal, De Vlaamse Waterweg nv is investing in the further expansion of the Albert Canal. The currently restricted clearance height and width under bridges constitutes a bottleneck for inland navigation on the Albert Canal.

Raising the height of the bridges over the Albert Canal to a free clearance height of 9.10 m will enable inland vessels carrying four layers of containers to navigate safely and smoothly. In addition, it will also provide better opportunities for short sea shipping on the Albert Canal.

This requires investment in widening and deepening the canal and in adapting its banks.

As a result, an existing Eandis gas pipeline that crosses the bottom of the Albert Canal forms an obstacle to the construction of the new canal infrastructure. Eandis was therefore ordered to move it and to realise a new line across the Albert Canal. This was put in place using horizontal directional drilling.

The horizontal directional drilling technique is very attractive for several reasons. It causes less disruption in the execution of major infrastructure works, leading to less time lost for road users in and around the works, lower expense and loss of income for motorists and retailers in the vicinity of the works and reduced environmental damage, vehicle damage, road damage and accidents because road diversions can be limited in scope and time.

This guarantees work efficiency and time savings.