2024-01-02 12:40:48
The extension to Herstal would be saved. From a good source, we confirm the information published by our colleagues from the newspaper The evening, the Walloon government met this Saturday and it was decided to resume work on the first extension to Herstal. The contractor Galère and his partner Stadsbader Contractors will soon be able to return to the site following 2 months of waiting.
The construction site should restart within one to two weeks, while the final administrative details are sorted out. The government has therefore decided to finance this first extension, even if it costs more than expected. The majority made their decision last Saturday because, without taking a position by January 1, they were going to go to the cash register and pay fines to the Galère company. The construction company won the contract for the Herstal extension in July, began work last November, before having to stop everything at the request of the client. The TEC had indeed just received the prizes from its technical partner, the company Tram’Ardent. It was she who installed the security, communication, signaling systems, etc. on the main line. To maintain a certain unity, it is she who must intervene on the extensions. The problem is that the company’s offer was, according to our sources, two to three times higher than what had been negotiated so far. Unacceptable for the Region and the TEC who have started negotiations with Tram’Ardent to try to find a financial agreement and save the extensions. While waiting for a solution, the TEC froze the work to avoid unnecessary costs given the uncertainty hanging over the file.
Negotiations to finance the line to Seraing
In Seraing, we cross our fingers for the same fate. So far no white smoke. Negotiations between the TEC, the Region and Tram’Ardent to reduce costs are still ongoing. It’s hard to say what will come out of this. At the same time, there are strong discussions within the government. On the one hand, there is the PS and Ecolo who say they are ready to pay for a line to Seraing. On the other, there is the MR, reluctant to once once more draw on Walloon funds, especially since the 105 million European funds initially dedicated to tram extensions were allocated to other, safer projects. .
Will the government finance the two lines before the elections and if so, how? Will he postpone the construction of the extension to Seraing to spread the costs over several years? Will he abandon this line and offer an alternative like the Busway? It is still too early to know and this confirms to us, once once more, that in this matter, we must neither be in a hurry nor be cautious.
1704207239
#Liège #tram #extension #Herstal #saved #Seraing #fingers #crossed