Antwerp, located in the north of Belgium, is a dense urban hub where numerous motorways converge: E34, E17, A12, E19, E313, etc. This concentration of interchanges generates significant traffic, impacting the quality of life of Antwerp’s residents. For this reason, the Flemish Region and the City of Antwerp launched several years ago a major infrastructure plan known as the “Oosterweel Link”. This project mainly involves closing the city’s ring road, with the aim of improving traffic flow, particularly for the substantial freight traffic heading to and from the port.
This redevelopment is accompanied by a broader vision for the entire ring area, especially regarding the expansion and accessibility of green spaces along it, under the global project “The Great Connection” (“De Grote Verbinding”). The objective is to give these areas a second life: making them accessible to all, creating continuous cycling and pedestrian networks, cooling the city through surface water and infiltration, and reducing noise pollution and air pollution generated by the motorway network.
Based on this master plan, numerous parks and urban spaces are being created around the city. Some of these parks follow the former military fortifications: the second belt of Brialmont forts. Among them, two areas are currently being studied by the greisch engineering office: Pomppark Zuid and Cluster Centraal, located along the southern ring of the city, in the section known as the Ringpark Groene Vesten.
Parks reshaping the city
Pomppark Zuid, 900 metres long, stretches between Antwerp-South station, Desguinlei and the railway tracks. Today, it mainly consists of underused spaces, partly occupied by a dog park The renovation will enhance its current function by adding play areas, walking paths, an amphitheatre for events, ecological corridors promoting biodiversity, and infiltration zones.
The project includes the construction of a noise barrier ranging from 5 to 9 metres in height along the railway line, which itself runs parallel to the motorway, creating a “canyon-like” configuration. Beyond its acoustic function, this reinforced earth structure clad with gabions reshapes the slopes and creates flat surfaces at ground level, improving accessibility and usability for local residents.
Cluster Centraal, extending over two and a half kilometres between the Craeybeckx Tunnel and the Zurenborg bridge, stands out for its focus on soft mobility, with the creation of a 6-metre-wide cycle highway alongside a pedestrian promenade.
The route of the cycle highway crosses road infrastructures several times via passages under existing bridges. The spaces between bridge piers are enclosed with acoustic panels. This choice is driven by spatial constraints and the need to keep the bridge piers visible for regular inspection. Their lightweight nature is also essential, as the existing foundations cannot support additional loads. The motorway drainage system will also be renovated.
An S-shaped footbridge allows the cycle highway to cross a motorway ramp. This structure features an increased width (8 m) to ensure good visibility for cyclists. A transparent PMMA noise barrier with a handrail, combined with a central box girder and cantilevered elements on both sides, ensures a light and elegant design.
Along the park, walls are constructed, mainly consisting of reinforced earth structures clad with lava stone gabions. These are topped with gabion walls at least 4 metres high on the park side, with a similar finish on both sides. The wall provides an acoustic insulation while the lava stone provides acoustic absorption. The total height of the wall on the motorway side reaches at least 8 metres.
The greisch engineering office was entrusted with the structural studies, in collaboration with Buur-Sweco (urban planning, Leuven), Latz & Partner (landscape architecture, Munich) and SWP (architecture, London/Amsterdam).
These two projects illustrate how areas surrounding major infrastructure can be transformed into high-quality urban parks, where acoustic protection, land valorisation, soft mobility and biodiversity come together to benefit residents.
Project stakeholders
- Client: AG Vespa
- Architects: Latz & Partner, Buur (Sweco), Studio\Woodroffe\Papa
- Engineering office: Bureau greisch
- Contractor: Stadsbader (Pomppark Zuid)