E3 tunnel in Harelbeke closed due to winter weather

The E3 tunnel may remain closed until Sunday. This is the second time in a short time, because last week the tunnel remained closed for a day due to the freezing cold. Even then there was a layer of ice on the road. The Roads and Traffic Agency does not think there is a structural problem with the tunnel, but they are investigating why this is the case.

“The gutters and drainage system are in order anyway, that has been checked. Most likely it has to do with groundwater coming up. You can also clearly see that in the tunnel,” says Eveline Vandecaetsbeek of the Roads and Traffic Agency. According to her, spreading therefore makes little sense. “Since the groundwater continuously rises, the salt simply flows away. Especially when temperatures drop below zero, the water freezes, with all the consequences that entails.”

ttn-40