Renovation work has been underway on the Leonard Tunnel on the greater Brussels orbital ring road for some time now. During the holiday period, the roads agency is stepping up its efforts to make progress. This will be especially noticeable on the clockwise ring road towards Waterloo and Wavre.
What will the traffic situation at the Leonard intersection look like this summer (and even until mid-September)? We explain what is happening based on the 4 directions leading to the intersection.
Clockwise ring road: from Zaventem as from 8 July
Until now, on the clockwise ring road, you could still use one lane if you were heading for the E411. There was also one lane through the tunnel for drivers heading to Waterloo. That changed last night as the contractor needs more space to continue the work.
Until Friday 12 July, the tunnel on the clockwise section of the ring road will be completely closed and traffic towards Waterloo and Namur is rerouted above ground over one lane. Even during the holidays, this can cause long traffic jams.
Clockwise ring road: from Zaventem from 13 July
From Saturday 13 July, things get a little better. The tunnel remains closed but 2 lanes are now open above ground.
Anti-clockwise ring road: from Waterloo/Hoeilaart from 8 July
On the anti-clockwise section of the ring road, the Leonard Tunnel will remain open but between 29 July and 18 August, traffic in the tunnel will be led over one lane instead of two. During the works during the summer, you will also have to drive through the clockwise ring road tunnel at certain times. This will happen when the contractor replaces the floor slabs on the anti-clockwise ring road.
Moreover, from 8 July, the connection from the anti-clockwise ring road to the E411 towards Brussels will also close. You can follow two different diversions: either you continue towards Zaventem and turn right in Tervuren or you choose the E411 towards Namur and turn around via the slip road at Jesus-Eik. Of course, it can get congested at the traffic lights there during rush hours.
For traffic on the E411 from Namur, nothing will change. Nor for those driving on the E411 from Brussels to the intersection. There, the connection to the clockwise ring road will remain closed.
Leonard intersection is a case all of its own: why the works cause so much disruption
Works on roads and tunnels always cause traffic jams, but the Leonard intersection is certainly a special case. This is because it is located in the middle of the protected Sonian Forest and therefore space is limited. That's because the Brussels Ring Road and the E411 were basically built on the route of the old cobblestone roads between Waterloo and Tervuren (N227) and between Namur and Brussels (N4).
At this location you cannot just use extra space to offer motorists temporary alternatives during works. This is why working on the Leonard intersection is a complicated puzzle for engineers and contractors, and sometimes literally a headache.
Luckily, once the tunnels have been renovated, they will gain a new lease of life and major work will not be needed for several more decades. Unfortunately, the structural traffic jams that occurred before the works will return, but the Flemish government is working on plans to make life easier for drivers turning off at this junction and above all safer. This will happen mainly underground, just to spare the Sonian Forest.