Deschacht thinks along with Franki Construct on the renovation of Antwerp-South station
Antwerp-South station is undergoing a thorough renovation to become a high-quality and fully accessible mobility hub. Both NMBS and the city of Antwerp are investing in improving accessibility, with a focus on better traffic flow and multimodal connectivity.
Prefabricated solutions for a complex construction project
During the renovation, the existing platform access points – concrete stairs and escalators – will be replaced by a passenger elevator and precast concrete stairs. In addition, a new bridge will be installed with cast-in-place abutments and piers, on which precast concrete girders will be mounted. This bridge will eventually serve as a station square and covered bicycle parking. The execution of the works is in the hands of Franki Construct, a specialist in civil engineering and industrial construction, and part of the Willemen Group. Due to the complex railway environment, careful phasing and the use of pre-assembled solutions were necessary to minimize disruption.
Deschacht as a collaborative partner
Through Stijn Voeten, project engineer at Franki Construct, Deschacht was brought in to devise an innovative solution for the installation of PE pipes for rainwater drainage. The challenge? Efficient assembly with minimal disruption to the railway environment. Our engineering department proposed a prefabricated solution in which the PE pipes were pre-assembled on the concrete girders. This ensured a fast and flawless installation on-site. Sister company Collinet handled the welding work for the PE pipes, bends, and expansion joints, while Deschacht supplied the custom-made HDPE pipes and the complete bracket system to precast concrete manufacturer Betca in Rumst.
A successful project
Due to the close collaboration between all parties, the puzzle pieces fell together perfectly. “It was a bit tense, but during the weekend of January 4th, 2/3 of the bridge deck was successfully installed, followed by the remaining span,” says Stijn Voeten, project engineer at Franki Construct. At Deschacht, we are proud of our contribution to this challenging project and the power of collaboration with our partners –
Franki Construct and Willemen Group
. Together we are building sustainable and innovative solutions for infrastructure works!
