2023-09-03 15:02:00
This Monday officially begins in the north of Brussels one of the biggest projects of the legislature: the two-way layout of Avenue Van Praet, the northern gateway to the capital. Project forming part of the transformation of the A12 into “A-douce” as Minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) calls it, this double direction frees up transit traffic on the Avenue des Croix du Feu, axis parallel called to become a “walking path”.
Along the canal, businesses cringe. “Having a single entry lane to Brussels instead of three is impossible. Especially with the work that has just been launched on the Vilvoorde viaduct”, tells us Michel De Bièvre, president of the Port Community of Brussels (CPB). “We do not at all understand this desire to go against companies. The companies along the canal create unskilled jobs. I would have liked more respect.”
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Same firmness with Laurent Nys, managing director of Mabru. For the boss of the morning market, reducing the strips of this gateway to Brussels is paradoxical. “We are worried about the signal. We created this logistics zone at this location to avoid too many trucks in the cities.” “In the project, Brussels Mobility does not take into account the economic function of the Region and access to the port area. This is a major axis for industry and supplies to Brussels”, adds Jan De Brabanter (Beci), “disappointed” by the turn of events.
Initially, the site is concentrating on the creation of a roundabout on the side of the canal. From the end of the year, avenue Van Praet will be made two-way. “It’s going to be chaos”, fears De Bièvre fearing long queues at the De Wand roundabout where traffic will be reduced to one lane towards Brussels. “It will slow down our goods and have an impact on accessibility… and it will impact costs”, predicts Laurent Nys. “But hey, if I’m wrong and if it doesn’t have an impact as they say, I’ll be the first to admit it.”
A project already modified
Consultations between the Vervoort government and the economic actors, there have nevertheless been some. Van den Brandt recalls that the draft has been amended several times following requests from companies. The first project provided for 1+1 bands (against one towards the canal, two towards Flanders in the modified version), a roundabout was added…
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This summer again, a new agreement was reached to amend the project… But Beci and the Port deplore a lack of guarantee. Because work begins and the promised modifications, in particular the installation of a dynamic system making it possible to have two bands towards the channel the morning, are not yet recorded in any permit. “We don’t have any guarantees,” points out Beci. “We are in the dark,” sighs De Bièvre. An action by the CPB is also about to be brought.
“A modified license will be introduced before the end of the year”, asserts the Van den Brandt cabinet. The reasons for already starting the work before making these changes? Coordination with the Neder-Over-Heembeek tram 10 construction site, which is advancing at high speed and is impacting mobility at this crossroads.
Remember that this transformation of the end of the A12 only concerns the part between the canal and the De Wand roundabout. The part between De Wand and the language border remains unresolved. Faced with the uncertainties about the redevelopment of Heysel and the dissensions within the Vervoort government, it had indeed been decided to split the project, and to move forward only on the southern section. The bone of contention of the northern section, directly at the exit of the Ring, being postponed to the Greek calends.
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