The Albert Bridge in Schaerbeek has been around for almost a century and has not withstood the test of time. “The bridge has been in a worn-out condition for a long time,” explains Thomas Baeken of Infrabel. Eleven years ago, the railway network operator decided to ban heavy traffic on the bridge.
Infrabel recently applied for a permit from the Brussels Region to demolish the bridge – also known as the Lion Bridge. “In the meantime, we have also sought advice from the Royal Commission for Monuments and Landscapes,” says Baeken. “That advice was negative and a procedure has been started to have the bridge classified.”
Sloop of monument
If the bridge is classified, it must remain standing and undergo renovation. “But since it is an old bridge, there are few renovation options available. In the event of a classification, we will have to consider completely banning traffic on the bridge, because it continues to deteriorate and parts have already fallen down,” it said. “That is not without risk, because the bridge crosses important lines such as those between Brussels and Antwerp or between Brussels and Leuven.”
We now have to wait for the decision of the Region, and whether it will authorize demolition with a view to a new bridge, or whether it will follow the advice of the Royal Commission for Monuments and Landscapes and consider the famous Albert Bridge as a monument.
The Fading Celebrity: The Albert Bridge Saga
Ah, the Albert Bridge of Schaerbeek! Or as I like to call it, ‘the bridge that took a long vacation and forgot to come back.’ This beauty has been around for almost a century but, much like those holiday photos your mates posted in a viral Facebook album, it hasn’t quite withstood the ravages of time. In fact, diving into the ins and outs of this structure is almost as thrilling as watching paint dry—though with a bit more grit!
According to Thomas Baeken of Infrabel (yes, I too had a chuckle when I heard his title), the bridge has been in a ‘worn-out condition for a long time.’ Clearly, the bridge didn’t just age; it’s gone through more stages of decline than a rock band after their third album. Eleven years ago, heavy traffic was banned from crossing this relic. I mean, can you blame them? It’s like putting a golden retriever in a dog show and discovering it still thinks it’s a puppy.
Sloop of Monument?
Now, just hold your horses, because Infrabel has recently taken another step by applying for a permit from the Brussels Region to demolish this iconic—albeit crumbling—structure. Also known as the Lion Bridge (because who wouldn’t want to name a dilapidated bridge after a majestic beast?), it seems like its days might be numbered.
“In the meantime, we have also sought advice from the Royal Commission for Monuments and Landscapes,” Baeken notes. Spoiler alert: the advice was negative. Who would’ve thought that asking a panel of elders about your rusty old bridge would lead to them calling for a preservation order? This sounds suspiciously like that episode of ‘Catchphrase’ where they just shout “It’s a no from me!”
If the bridge gets classified as a monument (and let’s be honest, being called ‘a monument’ doesn’t exactly scream ‘a bridge fit for the modern world’), it’s going to require renovations. But hang on to your hats, because the options for renovation are about as plentiful as a magician pulling rabbits from a hat—limited and often disappointing. So, here’s the kicker: if it’s marked as a monument, we might have to consider completely banning traffic from the bridge because, as Baeken sadly pointed out, parts of it have already begun the thrilling process of spontaneous disassembly. It’s like the worst game of Jenga you can imagine!
A Waiting Game
So now we are left waiting for the Region’s decision—will they grant the permit for a brand new shiny bridge (let’s hope it doesn’t have a mid-life crisis 20 years down the line) or will they listen to the noble elders of the Royal Commission for Monuments and Landscapes and preserve the poor old Albert Bridge like a relic? Talk about a cliffhanger! In a city that is practically a tapestry of history, could this bridge turn into the stunning thread that just won’t die, surviving as a monument while wobbling in the breeze?
In conclusion, the Albert Bridge’s fate is as suspenseful as a rom-com finale—will it be the happily ever after of preservation or the dramatic demolition ending nobody wanted? It’s a wait that might require popcorn and perhaps a few historical reenactments. But whatever the outcome, one thing’s for sure: the Albert Bridge will be talked about for years, if only for its spectacularly slow descent into history!
