The Bailli and Vleurgat tunnels in Brussels require essential reinforcement during the summer. Inspection results from 2022 show corrosion problems at the anchor heads of the prestressing cables in the roofs of the tunnels. The regional administration, Bruxelles Mobilité, plans to place shoring in the tunnels to reinforce the roofing from the inside. Without action, the corrosion could lead to a potential danger for users, with the possibility of the roof suddenly rupturing.
During construction, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. The construction site is expected to take place during the long holidays. Reinforcement of the pertuis towards La Cambre will occur during the first phase, with the pertuis towards the city modified to accommodate one traffic lane in each direction. The second phase will reinforce the roof of the pertuis towards the city. Traffic towards La Cambre will be restored in the pertuis towards La Cambre, but traffic towards the city will be diverted on the surface via a temporary road layout next to the tunnels.
Interventions will also take place at night, with the tunnels closing from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weeknights from Sunday to Thursday. The works require the setting up of a definitive strip under the tunnels in each direction. Brussels-Mobility reassures that the reduced capacity of the tunnels will still be sufficient to ensure the flow of traffic. The Avenue Louise tunnels receive 17,600 users daily towards the city and 16,500 users towards Bois de la Cambre, which remains completely absorbable with a single traffic lane.
The Bailli and Vleurgat tunnels will undergo essential reinforcement this summer. “Analysis and inspections carried out in 2022 in the Bailli and Vleurgat tunnels indicate an aggravation of the corrosion problems at the level of the anchor heads of the prestressing cables of the roofs of these tunnels”, indicates Bruxelles Mobilité.
“In concrete terms, if nothing is done, this would imply a potential danger for users in the medium term, with the possibility of a sudden rupture of part of the roof.” The regional administration plans to place shoring in these tunnels to reinforce their roofing from the inside.
After construction, traffic will remain limited to a single lane
During construction, traffic will be limited to one traffic lane in each direction instead of two. “Unfortunately, there is no other option that is quick and easy to implement”, specifies Bruxelles Mobilité.
The construction site is planned during the long holidays. The first phase will last one month. It will be a question of reinforcing the roof of the pertuis towards La Cambre. The pertuis towards the center will therefore be modified in order to accommodate a traffic lane in each direction; towards the center and towards La Cambre). The second phase provides for the reinforcement of the roof of the pertuis towards the center. Traffic to La Cambre is restored in the pertuis towards La Cambre, the capacity of which is now limited to one lane. Traffic in the direction of the center is diverted on the surface via a temporary road layout next to the tunnels, in the parking area.
“Before and after this summer closure, interventions will also take place at night, with the tunnels closing from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weeknights from Sunday to Thursday,” continues the regional administration.
The works undertaken require the setting up of a definitive strip under these two tunnels, in each direction. “However, this capacity remains sufficient to ensure the fluidity of the normal traffic currently monitored at this location”, reassures Brussels-Mobility. The Avenue Louise tunnels welcome 17,600 users daily towards the city and 16,500 users towards the Bois de la Cambre, with peaks of respectively 1,550 vehicles per hour towards the city at the morning peak and 1,500 vehicles per hour towards Cambre at the evening peak. This remains a completely absorbable volume of traffic with a single traffic lane, which has an average capacity of 1750 vehicles per hour.
In conclusion, Brussels Mobility is taking essential measures to reinforce the Bailli and Vleurgat tunnels in response to corrosion problems. While it may cause some traffic disruptions during the summer holidays, the safety of users is of utmost importance. The construction works will be carried out in two phases, limiting traffic to a single lane in each direction. Brussels-Mobility assures us that the capacity of the tunnels will be sufficient to ensure the fluidity of normal traffic. Once the reinforcement works are complete, the tunnels will operate as usual, providing a safe and efficient commute for the thousands of daily users.