Soetaert builds foundations in Luxembourg

For the very first time, foundation specialist Soetaert crosses the Belgian borders and starts working in Luxembourg. In the municipality of Lorentzweiler, it started early 2021 with the foundation works for the construction of a tunnel under the railway. A complex and challenging project, and therefore tailor-made for Soetaert.

The tunnel will replace a level crossing that will disappear to increase safety in the area. The new road tunnel will consist of two lanes – one for each direction – and a raised bicycle path. Main contractor Tralux entrusted the foundation works to Soetaert (under Jan De Nul Constructlux).

Not an ordinary project

The works consist of a combination of sheet piling and jet piling. Yet this is no ordinary project. The specific Luxembourg legislation and the long distance transport make it complex. Moreover, the waterline is only 2.5 cm lower than the railway. To guarantee water tightness when excavating the pit, Soetaert injected a mixture of cement and polyurethane.

Another challenge was the short time span to install the jet grout walls. Train traffic could only be interrupted during the week of Pentecost and the last full week of July. Soetaert should have finished the sheet piles mid-2022. Then they will have successfully completed their first foreign adventure.