Construction on the Seine-Nord Europe Canal, a 107-kilometre wide-gauge waterway that will connect Compiègne in the Oise to Aubencheul-au-Bac in the North, is ramping up.

Specifically, construction on a new viaduct for the future canal began on September 23, 2024, along the A2 motorway near the communes of Ytres and Ruyaulcourt in northern France. Sanef, the motorway operator, is managing the project, which will take place in phases until 2027 to minimise traffic disruptions. The viaduct will allow the canal, which is being developed by the Société du Canal Seine-Nord Europe (SCSNE), to pass approximately 40 metres beneath the current road level. As part of the construction process, several highways managed by Sanef, will be impacted.

The latest construction update shared by SCSNE follows last month’s environmental approval by the Prefects of the Departments of Oise, Somme, Pas-de-Calais, and Nord, allowing construction to start on the remaining 89 kilometres of the canal, following the earlier authorisation obtained in 2021 for the 18 kilometres in the Oise valley, where work is already ongoing.

The canal, a vital component of the Seine-Escaut river network, will allow large barges measuring up to 185 metres long and 11.4 metres wide to travel between France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, providing a new route for river-based freight transport. Scheduled to be fully operational by 2030, the canal aims to alleviate road congestion and reduce carbon emissions by diverting heavy goods transport from trucks to barges. A single barge on the Seine-Nord Europe Canal will be able to carry the equivalent of 400 trucks’ worth of cargo, potentially cutting road traffic in France by one million heavy vehicles annually. Across the broader Seine-Escaut link, up to 2.3 million trucks could be removed from European roads, helping to meet the region’s climate and energy goals.

The canal’s route, which runs through the Hauts-de-France region, is divided into six technical sectors. Work began in 2022 in Sector 1, with sectors 2, 3, and 4 starting construction between 2024 and 2025. The project includes the construction of 7 locks and 3 canal bridges, 62 road and rail crossings, 10 transhipment docks and the restoration of riverbanks. With an estimated capacity to transport 17 million tonnes of goods per year, the Seine-Nord Europe Canal is expected to cut over 50 million tonnes of CO2 over the next 40 years.

Inland ports; Photo by SCSNE

Based on the project description, four inland ports will be constructed along the Seine-Nord Europe Canal, located in Noyon, Nesle, Péronne, and Marquion-Cambrai. These ports will act as vital access points for the local economy to the Seine-Escaut network, establishing a key European multimodal hub that connects to both seaports and river terminals across the Seine and Northern Europe. In addition, six transhipment docks designed for containers, breakbulk and grain carriers will be established in Thourotte, Ribécourt-Dreslincourt, Pimprez (Oise), Languevoisin-Quiquery, Moislains (Somme), and Graincourt-lès-Havrincourt (Pas-de-Calais). This development will feature 3 meters of quays and encompass over 330 hectares of port terminals and business parks.

In July, the European Union allocated €300 million to the project through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The funding follows previous grants of €14 million (2007-2013), €163 million (2014-2023), and €405 million (2024-2027). The new tranche will support construction planned for the sector 2 after prior funding focused on sector 1.

The construction of the Seine-Nord Europe Canal is set to require an investment of €5.1 billion, as outlined in a financing agreement established in 2019. This budget is supported by contributions from the European Union, local authorities, and the French state. Funding will also include a loan of up to €800 million, which will be reimbursed through revenue generated from a national tax.

Construction on the Seine-Nord Europe Canal, a 107-kilometre wide-gauge waterway that will connect Compiègne in the Oise to Aubencheul-au-Bac in the North, is ramping up.

Specifically, construction on a new viaduct for the future canal began on September 23, 2024, along the A2 motorway near the communes of Ytres and Ruyaulcourt in northern France. Sanef, the motorway operator, is managing the project, which will take place in phases until 2027 to minimise traffic disruptions. The viaduct will allow the canal, which is being developed by the Société du Canal Seine-Nord Europe (SCSNE), to pass approximately 40 metres beneath the current road level. As part of the construction process, several highways managed by Sanef, will be impacted.

The latest construction update shared by SCSNE follows last month’s environmental approval by the Prefects of the Departments of Oise, Somme, Pas-de-Calais, and Nord, allowing construction to start on the remaining 89 kilometres of the canal, following the earlier authorisation obtained in 2021 for the 18 kilometres in the Oise valley, where work is already ongoing.

The canal, a vital component of the Seine-Escaut river network, will allow large barges measuring up to 185 metres long and 11.4 metres wide to travel between France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, providing a new route for river-based freight transport. Scheduled to be fully operational by 2030, the canal aims to alleviate road congestion and reduce carbon emissions by diverting heavy goods transport from trucks to barges. A single barge on the Seine-Nord Europe Canal will be able to carry the equivalent of 400 trucks’ worth of cargo, potentially cutting road traffic in France by one million heavy vehicles annually. Across the broader Seine-Escaut link, up to 2.3 million trucks could be removed from European roads, helping to meet the region’s climate and energy goals.

The canal’s route, which runs through the Hauts-de-France region, is divided into six technical sectors. Work began in 2022 in Sector 1, with sectors 2, 3, and 4 starting construction between 2024 and 2025. The project includes the construction of 7 locks and 3 canal bridges, 62 road and rail crossings, 10 transhipment docks and the restoration of riverbanks. With an estimated capacity to transport 17 million tonnes of goods per year, the Seine-Nord Europe Canal is expected to cut over 50 million tonnes of CO2 over the next 40 years.

Inland ports; Photo by SCSNE

Based on the project description, four inland ports will be constructed along the Seine-Nord Europe Canal, located in Noyon, Nesle, Péronne, and Marquion-Cambrai. These ports will act as vital access points for the local economy to the Seine-Escaut network, establishing a key European multimodal hub that connects to both seaports and river terminals across the Seine and Northern Europe. In addition, six transhipment docks designed for containers, breakbulk and grain carriers will be established in Thourotte, Ribécourt-Dreslincourt, Pimprez (Oise), Languevoisin-Quiquery, Moislains (Somme), and Graincourt-lès-Havrincourt (Pas-de-Calais). This development will feature 3 meters of quays and encompass over 330 hectares of port terminals and business parks.

In July, the European Union allocated €300 million to the project through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The funding follows previous grants of €14 million (2007-2013), €163 million (2014-2023), and €405 million (2024-2027). The new tranche will support construction planned for the sector 2 after prior funding focused on sector 1.

The construction of the Seine-Nord Europe Canal is set to require an investment of €5.1 billion, as outlined in a financing agreement established in 2019. This budget is supported by contributions from the European Union, local authorities, and the French state. Funding will also include a loan of up to €800 million, which will be reimbursed through revenue generated from a national tax.