Belgium, Antwerpen

Bypass Oost – Precision Work at its Finest

As part of the ambitious Oosterweel connection in Antwerp, Franki Foundations is proud to contribute to a highly technical and strategic project: the construction of the Bypass. This temporary highway is essential to maintaining smooth traffic flow on the Antwerp Ring (R1) during the construction of the underground tunnels that will replace the Merksem viaduct.

What exactly is the Bypass?

The Bypass is a temporary infrastructure built alongside the existing R1 between the Antwerp-North and Antwerp-East junctions, in collaboration with TM ROCO. It ensures traffic can continue to flow smoothly throughout the major works on the Oosterweel connection — a logistical and technical challenge of great complexity.

Our mission: deep foundations for safe and stable infrastructure

Franki Foundations is responsible for the foundation works of 14 new piers for the temporary viaduct. This includes a total of 203 PCS piles, with diameters of 800 mm and 1000 mm, and a maximum depth of 27 metres. The piles are installed in three phases using our powerful drilling rigs: the Fundex 2800 and Fundex 3500.

Precision drilling – millimetres from the existing viaduct

One of the most impressive phases took place near the Sportpaleis and the surrounding warehouses, where we drilled 48 PCS piles (800 mm in diameter) to lengths of up to 21.30 metres. The biggest challenge? Drilling just millimetres away from the existing viaduct – a true feat of precision, skill, and technical excellence.