The underground pipeline runs in Belgium from Antwerp via Geel, Meerhout, Tessenderlo to Geleen (Netherlands) and from there towards Cologne (Germany), before it turns to the North and continues towards Gelsenkirchen and Oberhausen via Cologne-Worringen, crossing the River Rhine at Dormagen and Dinslaken, and the Ruhr near Essen.

To ensure minimum use of land use and interference in the natural surroundings, ARG uses on long stretches uses the parallel routing of other lines, highways and railroad tracks, as well as routes of other infrastructures such as power lines.

The needs of nature and landscape protection are considered already in the pipeline planning stage, or in the event of any necessary relocations. One of the key principles when determining pipeline routes is to ensure interference in landscape-formative elements such as forests, woodland groups, hedges, river valleys and other sensitive habitats is kept to a minimum or entirely avoided.

Essential aspects for setting up the route are:

• Parallel installation to existing pipelines, power lines and traffic routes
• Use of existing gaps and forest aisles
• Optimized land use by the overlap of parallel protective strips
• Protection and conservation of individual plants
• Crossing waters or roads through underground pipe jacking
• Protection of topsoil by restoring the original surface after completion of the work
• Reinstatement of correct soil layers and components when backfilling the trench excavation
• Easing of any compaction
• Minimizing working strips and restoring original surfaces in the working area