(May 2021)
Avenue de Tervueren cycle path
A new phase of the Flemish Region’s “Werken aan de Ring” project (which involves major widening works around the Brussels ring road) includes the redevelopment of the Avenue de Tervueren (N3) and the Quatre Bras.
As part of this project, the southern branch of the Brussels section of the N3 (avenue de Tervuren) is to be replaced by a cycle route. Incoming and outgoing traffic would then be brought back to the single northern arm. Flanders is therefore proposing to abolish two
traffic lanes in favor of a wide bicycle path, whereas there is already one in each direction – but in poor condition – on avenue de Tervueren (north arm) and chaussée de Tervueren (south arm), see map below.
Our municipality runs the risk of potential collateral impacts in terms of mobility in neighboring streets, which the Flemish Region intends to measure with the help of a test (proposed timing: August to October 2021). During this test phase, each arm would lose one lane of traffic.
On March 30, 2021, the Kraainem town council will vote on this test phase project. It decided (majority vs. opposition) to discuss this proposal in the (public) Mobility Commission to assess in greater detail the advisability of carrying out such a test.
In general, the majority (Pro Kraainem / Kraainem-Unie) has expressed reservations about the project:
– Traffic jams are likely to occur at peak times, prompting motorists to take alternative routes, notably via Kraainem (av. d’Huart, chaussée de Malines, av. de Wezembeek, etc.).
– The proposed trial period is not relevant: the corona crisis will still have an impact on mobility (reduced traffic due to the obligation to telework, limited opening of schools, etc.) so we need to wait for a return to normal life to be able to assess the exact impact of the change on mobility in Kraainem.
Alternative proposals such as widening the existing cycle path in the woods – separated from the road – should be analyzed. Kraainem has to submit an opinion to De Werkvennootschap (Flemish Region), which we can only do after the above-mentioned mobility commission. The project is being closely monitored by the local authority.