Brussels Mobiliteit has submitted a request for a permit to renovate the Wet- and Belliardtunnel. The work is expected to take approximately two and a half years, with a complete closure of the tunnels for five months.
Recently, Brussels Mobiliteit submitted a request for a permit to renovate and make both the Belliard and Wettunnel safer. The public investigation started at the end of December and runs until January 26th.
The renovation will be carried out in phases. “The work will take approximately 2.5 years,” says Inge Paemen, spokeswoman for Brussels Mobiliteit. “When the work will start will depend on the application for a permit and the tendering file.” If all procedures go smoothly, the work could start in 2024.
“The idea is to close the tunnels only at night for fifteen months and close them 24/7 for all traffic for five months. The complete closure will of course take place in the quieter, holiday periods,” says Paemen.
Important Traffic Arteries
The impact of this could be quite large. On average, 45,000 drivers drive through the Belliardtunnel every day and 30,000 through the Wettunnel. The Wettunnel is located under the Wetstraat and the Robert Schumanplein and connects the Jubelparktunnel with the Wetstraat. The Belliardtunnel is much longer and connects the Belliardstraat with the Tervurenlaan on the one hand, and the Reyerscomplex on the other – the split is located under the Robert Schumanplein. The tunnel is an important traffic artery in Brussels for traffic leaving the capital.
Total Renovation
The application for a permit reveals how urgent the work is. “The many tunnels in the Brussels Capital Region are not only outdated, but are also characterized by technical installations whose functional shortcomings do not provide sufficient guarantees for the safety of users,” it reads.
The planned work consists of a total renovation, without a change in the traffic situation. “These works will therefore have no consequences for the status, traffic, profile and length of the Wet- and Belliardtunnel,” it says in the application.
On the schedule is the renovation of the dilapidated construction structures, footpaths and sewers, as well as the construction of new emergency exits. A total of four new emergency exits are planned, bringing the total to twelve. In addition, the ventilation and lighting system will be renewed and sound-absorbing panels will be installed.
The application for a permit is necessary due to the construction of three new emergency exits, which will extend beyond the current right of way.
This article is originally published on bruzz.be
