A total of 41 major roadworks will be carried out on Flemish motorways by the end of this year. The price tag? More than €902 million.
Flemish Minister for Mobility and Public Works Lydia Peeters (Open VLD) confirmed on Sunday that dozens of major works will be carried out in the course of this year. The focus now is on the renovation of 16 bridges or viaducts, seven tunnels and several engineering works.
"The interventions are very diverse," said Peeters. "They range from renewals of the road surface to the installation of noise barriers, the construction of rush-hour lanes and the conversion of traffic complexes."
The investment totals €902 million, but this excludes the large-scale Oosterweel project, which made headlines for the PFAS pollution on the site, linked to the 3M factory nearby.
Today, the realisation of that project, connecting the Left Bank and Right Bank on the north side of Antwerp, is expected to cost €7 billion. These high costs have been explained by the fact that new roads, bridges and tunnels need to be built.
It is also in Antwerp that one of the most major projects will start on Monday 11 March, one lane on the outer ring road near the Sportpaleis will be closed and the three remaining will be narrowed.
Limiting disruption
The announcement of these works will raise concerns among commuters who regularly drive on Flemish motorways. Already, the congestion heaviness in January 2024 broke records, and roadwork usually further exacerbates this issue.
However, for the 41 roadworks on motorways, the Agency for Roads and Traffic (AWV) has stated it will limit disruption by working at quiet times and keeping as many lanes open as possible.
Peeters further stressed that speed limits must always be respected near major roadworks.
"There will be route controls and the road police will also keep an eye on things," she said. A new national campaign has also been launched, calling on people to inform themselves about the planned works.
