Residents and shopkeepers in Hasselt’s Diesterstraat are frustrated with the ongoing construction work. According to a resident named Andy, this is already the 111th construction site in the last five years. The cavity under the road was identified in August, but no action was taken until now. The lack of communication between the city and the construction company is a concern. In addition to this, the street is very busy with trucks and cars, making it dangerous. The residents feel that the city does not care about them. Many are unhappy about the situation and are unable to go about their daily business. Alderman Laurence Libert has promised to resolve the issue by meeting with public service companies.
Residents and shopkeepers are fed up with the work going on in Hasselt’s Diesterstraat. According to Andy, a local resident, this is already the 111th construction site in five years.
“We have known since August that there is a cavity under the road. We saw it back then. They didn’t fix it. But today, they are suddenly very surprised by the presence of this cavity. They do not communicate between the city and the construction company? Andy plagues the Nieuwsblad.
“It’s one of the busiest roads out of the city centre. Dozens of trucks and hundreds of cars pass here every day. It could have collapsed like that, but no one cares except the traders. The city has no respect for us. This is the 111th intervention since 2017, I counted carefully. Our street was closed for one or more days no less than 93 times. More than 50 water leaks have been identified, power lines have been moved…” Andy, angry, believes that the City does not care about the merchants, because they seem to fall from the clouds with each new problem in the street while according to him, all the problems are known to all and for a long time.
Other residents also express their dissatisfaction: “I couldn’t even get into my own garage. It’s really too much time”, “the street is full of trucks, pipes and mud, in short, our stores are almost empty when they should be full by now. The rant is generalized.
“I don’t know the exact number of interventions, but our people confirm to me that in the Diesterstraat, there are indeed very regular interventions of all kinds. It is a street where many utility lines pass. All public services are called there regularly. The number of interventions is enormous and the contractors and the inhabitants of this street show great understanding,” explains the spokesperson for the company which is managing part of the work.
Alderman Laurence Libert (Open VLD) nevertheless promises to solve the problem: “We are going to see each other with the public service companies. »
The frustration of Hasselt’s residents and shopkeepers with the ongoing construction work in Diesterstraat is palpable. With over 111 interventions in five years, the constant road closures, water leaks, and power line movements have taken a toll on businesses and residents alike. Despite promises from the Alderman to resolve the issue, it remains to be seen whether the city and construction company will communicate effectively to ensure that this street can finally have some respite from construction disruption.