Tervuren’s Summer of Traffic Woes from May 26

©Tervuren+ The town's critical artery, the Duisburgsesteenweg, was first closed in June 2023 after a concerning crack appeared in the middle of the street. The incident coincided with foundation work for the nearby Panquin complex, a luxury development including a brasserie, 100 high-end apartments and a 100-room hotel.

Tervuren is set for more months of delays and frustration as repairs resume on the damaged Duisburgsesteenweg. Town officials hope to complete the works by the end of August.

Tervuren’s critical artery, the Duisburgsesteenweg, was first closed in June 2023 after a concerning crack appeared in the middle of the street. The incident coincided with foundation work for the nearby Panquin complex, a luxury development including a brasserie, 100 high-end apartments and a 100-room hotel.

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Efforts to restore the vital route have been hampered by ongoing legal disputes between town hall and Panquin’s contractors over responsibility for the €279,000 repair bill, a figure quoted in 2024.

“In January, we attempted to reopen the road to two-way traffic, but ongoing legal inquiries prevented that. Now, with the expert’s report finalized and awaiting formal judicial approval, we can finally move forward,” said Mayor Thomas Geyns, who left a career as a lawyer to take up the €99,801-per-year mayoral post.

If it loses a court battle, Tervuren could be liable for a €279,000 bill to repair the Duisburgsesteenweg. The main road into Tervuren was damaged during the massive foundation works for the luxury Panquin apartments. Closure will only add to travel miseries from 1 September.

Utility works wrapped up in April, clearing the way for final roadworks to begin May 26. Those will include reinforcement of the subsoil with gravel cores starting in early June. The project involves a complete reconstruction of the road surface and sidewalks, along with the installation of a new amphibian tunnel.

Motorists will face continued disruptions, with traffic in both directions redirected via the Ringlaan, Hertenbergstraat, Lindeboomstraat, Ortar De Pauwstraat and Vestenstraat. The road through Tervuren Park will remain open to vehicles under 3.5 tons.

“A lot of time was wasted, and both residents and business owners suffered because of it,” Geyns said, acknowledging local frustration over the slow pace of progress. “But now, finally, there’s a breakthrough.”

Door Dafydd ab Iago. © Artikel en foto gelicentieerd © 2024 voor Tervuren+ onder de Creative Commons Naamsvermelding-GelijkDelen 4.0 Internationale licentie.