The budget had however been found, not in Europe as initially announced but within the Walloon budget and more precisely the Recovery Plan.
From the outset, this project to extend the tram line towards Herstal and Seraing was, as a reminder, judged as ““way too expensive” by some politicians, the liberals in the lead. In total, the amount previously mentioned was 365 million. Too much for a new Government looking for money, with all due respect to the former socialist and green ministers of Liège who were arguing for a structuring tram network on the scale of the agglomeration.
The announcement was made this Thursday afternoon: the extensions will be replaced by two priority bus lines.
264 millions
Concretely, these lines will “run” over about fifteen kilometers (and will therefore be longer than the two extensions combined, the latter reaching nearly 6 km), for a total investment of 264 million. That is 100 million less than the double extension project.
“We have said it: we must maximize the use of public money”justified, during a press conference, the regional minister-president, Adrien Dolimont (MR).It is a winning choice, more efficient, with a better cost/benefit ratio and less risk”continued the Minister of Mobility, François Desquesnes (Les Engagés).