The new bridge over the E40 Ostend-Brussels motorway in Drongen (Ghent) turns out not to be wide enough to allow a smooth traffic flow. The bends are also too sharp, sometimes forcing cars to reverse to give lorries enough space to contest the bridge. The roads authority recognises the problem: its solution is to put up road signs to indicate the narrowing of the road.
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New Ghent motorway bridge too narrow: trucks and cars get stuck in the bends
Colin Clapson
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Work on the bridge on Kloosterstraat in Baarle near Drongen took a year. It caused months of massive traffic disruption on the E40, as lanes had to be narrowed as motorists approached the construction site. The new bridge opened at the beginning of June, but ever since there have been problems with the flow of traffic.
"The bridge is really much too narrow," says motorist Geert Van Damme, who drives over it every day. "Not only when two lorries want to pass each other, but also when an ordinary car passes. I have already had to reverse several times, because otherwise the truck could not take the bend”.
It had to be a quick fix
At the roads and traffic agency, they are aware of the situation. "The old bridge was in very bad condition and had to be replaced quickly," says spokesman Jef Schoenmaekers. "We had to make do with the space that was available, as there was no time for long-running expropriation procedures. Moreover, we also had to provide for separate cycling and walking paths. As a result, the road itself turned out quite narrow."
The bridge forms the link between the Baarle industrial zone and the Drongen slip road complex on the E40. "It is a provisional solution," says Jef Schoenmaekers. "A bigger project is in the pipeline involving the entire Drongen slip road complex being reconstructed. There are now six scenarios, but no firm decision will be taken until next year. It is not yet clear whether the new bridge will then remain or whether it will be given a new role."