Motorists will again be able to use the Leopold II tunnel in Brussels from Saturday 1 September, Brussels Minister of Mobility and Public Works Pascal Smet said on Wednesday. The four lanes at Porte de Hal Tunnel will also be reopened to the public - from Friday,
Léopold II Tunnel has been totally closed to the traffic since 1 July due to major innovations and repairs to the structure, including work to eliminate asbestos from it. Earlier, some of its lanes had also been closed at night to prepare for the in-depth innovation. Drainage and lighting systems have been upgraded while new cameras have been installed, and 16 emergency exits have been created.
Covering a distance of 2.6 kilometres, the Leopold II tunnel is the longest in Belgium. Some 40,000 vehicles use it every day.
The renovation of the tunnel has not yet been completed. Two closures are scheduled for the next two summers to recoat its 50,000 square-metre surface. Nighttime closures are also programmed throughout the year to repair the roof of the tunnel.
The Brussels Times
