2023-08-14 11:35:52
In Belgium, there are no fewer than 5,561 bridges and 290 retaining walls. These infrastructures allow millions of users to travel freely on Walloon territory every day. But as for the other elements of the road system, these elements are deteriorating, and require renovations. This is where a misunderstanding arises.
Fuzzy Considerations
This issue is Caroline Cassart, deputy MR in the Walloon Region, who raises it. In February 2023, the mayor of Ouffet asked for an inventory of category A (with “very significant” defects) and B (“significant and evolving” defects, therefore likely to change category if they occur). degrade further). “I did a thorough job, explains the deputy, because I believe that we must maintain our road network, but also all our works of art. Behind that, it is the safety of the citizen which is at stake, with soft mobility or not. We realized when we had the floods that there were problems at some dams due to lack of maintenance. »
Following her research, MP Cassart receives an initial report from the Ministry of Mobility. Results that raise questions: not all category A structures have work proposals or an intervention schedule; the budget estimates do not take into account all the damaged bridges. Some work proposals are also surprising. It reads “crossing prohibited”, or “at this stage, I would rather go on the fact of having an eye on it and avoiding unnecessary costs. »
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File states like “no parking and passing. So no short-term risk except collapse on the river with possible blockage => flooding “also puzzled the MP:” I think that we must show common sense and consistency: we evaluate, we take stock , we budget and prioritize according to the urgency, without denying the less urgent works, so that they do not become so later and spend a fortune! I can understand that a decision can only be made following having received all the information. If a budget assessment has been requested since April, that’s understandable, but if it’s been for more than a year… we have to tackle it frankly for the safety of citizens. »
And the MP concluded: “Is everything under control? Well, I don’t think so. There are monitoring, maintenance and worksite prioritization obligations, and I don’t have the impression that the timeline is being drawn up and that we are taking things head on now. »
The MEP intends to rephrase a question following the ministerial evaluations, insisting on Region-municipal cooperation.
From a communal point of view
If Caroline Cassart points to flaws in the analysis procedure, on the ground, the municipalities share a nuanced discourse. Nicolas Stilmant, mayor of Fauvillers, attends more follow-up in the progress of the files: “we have had rather good contact with the Region lately. Everything is going normally. For the Ravel section, several meetings have been scheduled, and the SPW invites us every Tuesday to check on the progress of the work. »
Located in Rulles, the bridge over the Mandebras is a key passage for motorists. -DR
Nevertheless, the mayor was unaware of the category of the problematic work in his municipality, and therefore of the seriousness of the latter. And following reflection, it turns out that the work in question is not yet under construction! Another work, on the other hand, the iron bridge, a former tram bridge, is well under renovation, but does not appear in the problematic works.
In Habay, two works are classified in category A, including the bridge over the Mandebras. Located in Rulles, it is considered dangerous… but still in place. His replacement was announced in September 2019, according to our colleagues from the Future. But the auction, therefore the submission to public markets, is only scheduled for 2024, for a provisional estimate of €300,000.
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