“It has poisoned the lives of thousands of people”
Contacted by our colleagues from La Derniere Heure, the Flemish administration in charge of the project mentions “an entrepreneur’s mistake.” The work being carried out at the central berm at night since Monday, the left strip is now neutralized. In return, the bus lane is reopened to motorists. Except that the contractor who worked at night forgot to remove the “bus” markings. Results: motorists, respecting the signs, found themselves on a single lane during the morning rush hour towards Brussels.
“What disconcerting laxity and I-don’t-care attitude. To err is certainly human, but this lack of professionalism is distressing. As if it wasn’t important. This has poisoned the lives of thousands of people. There are missed appointments, a socio-economic impact. We expect, for this type of project, less lightness and nonchalance”castigates Walloon MP Olivier Maroy (MR). In La Hulpe, the new mayor, Xavier Verhaeghe deplores a “catastrophic management” of the Léonard site by pointing out a “lack of communication.”
As of this Wednesday morning, the situation should, promises the administration, return to order with the return of two routes to Brussels.
Soon a huge construction site a stone’s throw from the Leonard crossroads: here are the disruptions planned on the E411 and in the center of Jezus-Eik (PHOTO)
A hatchet brought out
This Tuesday, there was a scent of spring… 2024. French speakers are raising their voices, in some way resurrecting last year’s hatchet. A little less than a year ago, the setbacks of the renovation of the Carrefour Léonard took on a major political dimension. Remember that, although it is located on the outskirts of Brussels, the crossroads is in Flemish territory and it is therefore the authorities in the north of the country who organize (and finance) the work. A Flemish project from then on, with a mainly Walloon and Brussels impact.
Since the late announcement of the first works and the closures of the ramps linking Waterloo to Herrmann-Debroux, the Brussels municipalities, fearing transit traffic, have denounced a lack of information and anticipation. An outcry subsequently supported by the Brussels Region and Wallonia. Interministerial meetings, task force, multiple press releases… As work on the Ring dragged on, the “Leonardo controversy” finally ended up exhausting itself.
-A band towards Brussels from spring
But a new phase of the project risks awakening certain tensions that have been kept silent. From spring, the impact on the Ring will be lower with the reopening of the ramps. But it will be the E411 which will then experience the most embarrassment, with work both during the day and at night. All E411 traffic will then be diverted into one half of the tunnel. Traffic will be limited to one lane towards Brussels and two towards Namur, probably until the end of the year.
The embarrassments of this Tuesday therefore appear to be a bad appetizer for the road chaos to come this spring. “This error clearly shows that it will be the boxon“, points out Olivier Maroy. “The work must be done. We cannot prevent Flanders from renovating its tunnels. But you have to prepare“, calls the MP, who calls for urgent measures to encourage the use of the train and the Louvain-la-Neuve deterrent parking lot.
In Overijse, there are already fears of an increase in transit traffic in residential areas, explains Alderman Filip Boon. In Wavre, no increase in congestion noted this Tuesday, according to Mayor Benoît Thoreau (LE). But the mayor ensures that he remains vigilant as new disruptions approach: “It’s clear that this will cause problems.”
And as work never comes alone, let us remember that another impactful project is looming on the horizon in the Soignes forest. In Jezus-Eik, a stone’s throw from the Leonard crossroads, the motorway bridge will be destroyed to rebuild two other infrastructures. Vast works which will impact the E411 from February and will last until 2026…
