2023-09-20 10:00:00
It is one of the largest construction sites in the country. The Vilvoorde viaduct, part of the Brussels Ring above the Willebroek canal, has been under construction since the start of the school year. A profound and necessary makeover that will last until… 2031.
Since this summer, the lanes towards Zaventem have been narrowed and the speed is limited to 50 km/h. With the consequence, queues and slowdowns.
But a nagging criticism is being heard: where are the workers? It is in fact not uncommon to pass by, in the evening or in the morning, and not see any workers at work. A situation that can make some motorists cringe as they walk across the colossal bridge.
Here we go for eight years of construction: 5 things to know regarding the colossal and very long renovation of the Vilvoorde viaduct
“Still in the initial phase of construction”
Contacted on this subject, the Flemish public works agency, De Werkvennootschap, defended itself and mentioned work carried out in places not visible from the roadway. “The majority of the work is currently being done under, below and inside the viaduct, which is therefore invisible,” indicates the spokesperson for the institution, who recalls that the project will last eight years and that it has just to start last month. “We are still in the initial phase of the construction.”
In the “majority of later phases,” motorists should see workers at work on the bridge. “But not during the start-up phase, although we work very hard to reach this maximum speed.”
This Flemish public works agency also tells us that it has already been contacted regarding the absence of workers on the viaduct. “We realize this can be frustrating for those going through this. We are also considering the possibility of indicating on site something like ‘Even if you don’t see it, we are working here 24/7 for the Viaduct of the future’.” An inscription, the infrastructure being in Vilvoorde, which will be written in Dutch.
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