Tongeren-Borgloon (Eurotoday) – The Roads and Traffic Agency (AWV) in Tongeren-Borgloon installed a 5,600-ton tunnel under the railway. Spokesperson Zoë Debbaut said it used 2 million litres of concrete and finished within 24 hours.
As VRT News reported, in Tongeren-Borgloon, in the province of Limburg, Belgium, the Roads and Traffic Agency (AWV) has installed a 5,600-ton tunnel under the railway line. Before the installation, around 10,000 cubic meters of soil were removed from the hill, and the railway tracks were taken apart. Special tracks were placed in the ground, allowing the large structure to be pushed slowly and carefully into position.
“We poured 2 million litres of concrete in one go to install this gem,”
says Zoe Debbaut, spokesperson for AWV in Limburg.
How did AWV slide a 5,600-ton tunnel under the railway in Tongeren-Borgloon?
Once the tunnel was set on the guiding tracks, hydraulic pumps pressed against the sides of a watertight tank to keep it stable. Cranes then added heavy concrete blocks step by step. In only 24 hours, the 33-meter-long tunnel reached its final place beneath the railway.
At the front of the tunnel, the sliding structure bends slightly upward, shaped like the front of a ski.
“Otherwise, the structure, which weighs as much as 1,400 Asian elephants, would simply slide into the soft sand,”
says Debbaut.
Many residents have gathered at the end of Beemdstraat to watch the work as it happens. The Roads and Traffic Agency (AWV) has arranged safe viewing areas so visitors can follow the progress without entering the work zone.
According to officials, the nearby youth group Chiro Aterstoase has been affected by the project, as its playground is located right next to the site and cannot be used during the construction period. The group has turned the situation to its advantage by selling hot dogs to raise money for their camp. Train traffic through the area has been stopped until Sunday night, November 16, 2025.
According to the Roads and Traffic Agency, the first phase of the project will finish by the end of this year. The agency is now preparing for the next stage, which will begin in the spring and focus on building the South-East Bypass. Progress on the project can be followed on the official AWV website.
The Tongeren-Borgloon tunnel project is part of the South-East Bypass, which aims to have safer and smoother traffic between the 2 towns. The idea for the bypass arose in 2017 when the Roads and Traffic Agency (AWV) started to search for measures to reduce congestion.
At the end of 2022, detailed designs and environmental assessments were made. Preparation work started in 2024, with the main part of the work starting in November 2025, following the preparation where approximately 10,000 cubic meters of soil were removed and railway tracks removed over the summer of 2025.
Comments
20 responses to “5,600-Ton Tunnel Installed by AWV in Tongeren-Borgloon”
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Another day, another 5,600 tons of concrete sliding under a railway – just what every small town needs, right? 🤔 I mean, who needs playgrounds when you can have elephants in a tunnel? 🐘✨
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Installing a 5,600-ton tunnel overnight? Just your average Tuesday in Tongeren-Borgloon, eh? 😏 Who needs sleep when you’ve got 2 million litres of concrete and a few hydraulic pumps to play with!
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So, a 5,600-ton tunnel in 24 hours? Bravo, AWV! I’m sure my morning commute will feel just as swift as a snail on a leisurely stroll. 🐌💨
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Blimey, who knew a 5,600-ton tunnel could be installed faster than my last tax return? Remind me to ask the AWV for tips next time I’m stuck in traffic! 😏🚧
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Just what we needed in Tongeren-Borgloon, a 5,600-ton concrete masterpiece—because nothing screams “progress” quite like making the ground shake for a glorified badger burrow. 🙄 Hope they serve hot dogs in the viewing area; at least the locals can munch while they marvel at this “engineering marvel”! 🌭
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Oh, a 5,600-ton tunnel in just 24 hours? Must be nice to have the budget of a small country for a bit of concrete and some cranes. 🏗️😏
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Just what we needed, a 5,600-ton concrete masterpiece to help us navigate traffic like a game of Tetris. Hope they serve hot dogs on the train while we wait for the next phase; at least we can munch our way through the delays! 😂
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Just what we needed, a 5,600-ton tunnel to enhance our already thrilling train rides—because nothing screams “efficiency” like a construction project that’s as heavy as a herd of elephants. 🐘💼 Hope they serve us some hot dogs while we wait for the next phase!
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Oh, just what we needed, a 5,600-ton concrete ski ramp in Tongeren-Borgloon—because who doesn’t love a bit of heavy lifting on a Sunday? 😂 At least the kids can enjoy hot dogs while the trains take a well-deserved break!
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Installing a 5,600-ton tunnel in just 24 hours? Bravo, AWV! Next, let’s see if you can make a decent cappuccino in the same timeframe. ☕️#MultitaskingMasters
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Fancy a 5,600-ton tunnel under your train tracks? Because nothing says “European efficiency” like a concrete slide fitting under the railway in less time than it takes to order a coffee! ☕️💼
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A 5,600-ton tunnel in 24 hours? Brilliant! At this rate, I expect they’ll be installing a new country next week—just as long as they don’t forget the hot dogs! 😂
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Typical, right? Just what we needed – a 5,600-ton monument to inefficiency right under the train tracks. Hope they serve coffee at the viewing area, ’cause we’ll be waiting ages for that bypass! 😏🚧
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Installing a 5,600-ton tunnel in just 24 hours? Must be nice to have a concrete fairy godmother! 🧙♂️ Hope they’ve got enough hot dogs to keep the locals entertained while they wait for their trains! 🚂🌭
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Oh, brilliant! Just what we needed—a 5,600-ton tunnel to ensure our trains can glide over our beloved soft sand without a hitch. Who knew concrete could be so fashionable? 😂
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Only 24 hours to install a 5,600-ton tunnel? Must be that Belgian efficiency we keep hearing about—next, they’ll be serving fries under the railway! 🍟😏
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Oh, brilliant! Nothing like a 5,600-ton tunnel to remind us that in Belgium, we don’t just pour concrete, we practically take a bath in it! 🏗️💦
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Oh, brilliant! Just what we needed – a 5,600-ton tunnel to remind us that even our infrastructure can do heavy lifting while we sip our coffee and watch the chaos unfold. 🥴 At this rate, I half expect them to start serving fries from the viewing area! 🍟
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Just what we needed, a 5,600-ton tunnel in Tongeren-Borgloon—because who doesn’t want a giant concrete ski ramp beneath their train tracks? 🏗️💁♂️ Bet the local hot dog stand is raking it in while we all wonder if it’ll hold more elephants than our tax money can! 🐘💸
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Installing a 5,600-ton tunnel in just 24 hours? That’s about as common as finding a decent cup of coffee in a train station! Cheers to AWV for pulling off this “light” feat, but I guess they really know how to make heavy lifting look like child’s play. 😂💪
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