Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
logistics of the construction process. In addition, all the installations which
were originally provided in the northern arrival shaft or caisson, were
housed in an extra building at the access ramp causing a time gain of a few
months for the fitting out of the caisson.
The project budget amounted to about 750 million euro excluding VAT.
Aside from the direct construction costs (approximately 635 million euro),
this amount also includes the costs associated with the land acquisition,
permits, spatial fitting-in planning, personnel and consultancies, accommo-
dation and insurances. The eventual budget spent is only about 6% higher
than originally estimated, an exceptional achievement for such a huge infra-
structural project. Together with the operating costs (225 million euro) and
the maintenance (300 million euro) the total amount of expenses for the
crossing amounts to 1.3 billion euro, for the period until 2033.
Collection of tolls
The design of the toll square was tested in a simulating study of various traf-
fic and logistical aspects.This was contributory for determining the required
number of toll booths and the differing payment systems. In the study, con-
sideration was also taken into account of busy (tourist) traffic intensities in
which the traffic could jam up at a certain stage.The study provided a wealth
of information which has lead to an optimization of the original design of the
toll square. Paying the toll occurs by means of cash, a credit card, a chipper
or with an electronic identification and payment system, the so-called T-tag.
With aT-tag the tunnel user passes the barrier gates without 'stopping'. The
system has a transponder provided with an electronic code situated on
the inside of the windscreen of a vehicle. At the entrance to the toll portal
the code is read electronically by the reading device under the portal. This
code is transmitted to a computer which checks if the number exists and if
there is sufficient credit available on the subscriber's Westerschelde Tunnel
account. If this is the case, then the barrier gate is opened, the traffic light is
set to green and the subscriber's credit available is reduced by the toll tariff.
The tariffs for a single pass as at 14th March 2003, amount to:
€ 4,00 for passenger vehicles and motor cycles
€ 6,00 for passenger vehicles with trailer
€ 15,00 for trucks shorter than 12 metres and higher than 2.50 metres
€ 20,00 for trucks longer than 12 metres and higher than 2.50 metres
Fig. 1.10
Artist's impression of
toll square
Search WWH ::
Custom Search