Cost
$8.3b
$8,322,000,000
Phases
underConstruction, 2030
Objective
To bypass the narrow, congested Canal du Nord bottleneck, allowing mega-barges up to 185 meters long to carry up to 4,400 tonnes of cargo each. This establishes a high-capacity, emission-slashing water corridor connecting the Seine basin near Paris directly into the 20,000-kilometer European waterway network. Description
A massive 107-kilometer-long, 54-meter-wide large-gauge inland waterway featuring six state-of-the-art locks, three expansive canal bridges (including the 1.3 km Somme Canal Bridge), and four dedicated inland ports. History
Proposed in the 1990s as the Canal Seine-Nord, the project was delayed for two decades by shifting French political priorities, high cost estimates, and disputes over regional funding formulas. It was completely restructured in 2017 with the formation of the Société du Canal Seine-Nord Europe (SCSNE) to secure localized funding and EU approvals, clearing the way for preparatory earthworks in 2021.