Brussels police expect “large” traffic jams near the entrance to the town centre and the small ring-road on Tuesday. This is due to a federal inter-professional strike organised by the Communal Union Front. They therefore advise people to avoid driving in the capital.
Around 50,000 demonstrators are expected, according to a police press release issued on Friday. The demonstration will start at the gare du Nord at 8.30. They will head towards the gare du Midi at 11.30. “It is likely that the main roads will be shut to traffic a little earlier, or the demonstration will leave earlier”.
From 9am, cars in the Leopold II tunnel heading towards the small ring-road will not be able to take the place Sainctelette and porte d’Anvers exit. Vehicles in the Botanique tunnel heading towards Rogier will also not be able to take the place Rogier exit either. These exits will be reopened when the demonstrators arrive on the boulevard Pachéco (around 2pm).
Later on (at around 12.30 or earlier), the road from the porte de Hal tunnel heading towards Midi will be shut, and traffic will be diverted at rue Blaes, to the Saint-Gilles barrier. The situation will not change until the demonstrators have crossed the boulevard du Midi to get to the station (the police estimate this will be around 16.30).
Disruptions are also expected on the Brussels public transport network, according to the Stib. Drivers have decided to join the strike, so will not be working. The Stib will tell passengers through social media and their contact centre at 6am, it has said.
There are also be big disruptions expected on the TEC and De Lijn networks, the two companies announced on Friday.
Trains should not be affected, the SNCB has said.
(Source: Belga)
