A12 in Brussels becomes a green promenade
Brussels hope to start work next year on the A12, where the number of lanes for those entering the city will be increased from three to one.
The Brussels Region has plans ready to turn the last part of the A12 into a green promenade. For those who have to enter the city, there remains one lane for cars. That is what De Morgen and La Libre Belgique write on Tuesday.
The Brussels Mobility administration has already submitted the application for the urban development permit. Although there are no information meetings for local residents yet, the government does not expect any major problems. The hope is that the permit will be completed within six months, so that work can start in 2022, which will take about three years.
Smaller and slower
In concrete terms, this concerns a strip of three kilometers between the border with Flanders and the canal, at the height of the Van Praet bridge. This strip comprises a section A12 and R21. Those who now pass there by car and drive for 120 kilometers past the junction of the Atomium, to move near the American theater and continue through the royal domain of Laeken to the city center.
This orbit is getting smaller and slower. In town, the number of lanes goes from three to two and then to one. This creates a funnel. The speed limit goes to 90 and 50 kilometers per hour. For those who leave the city, two lanes remain.
Ten-Minute City
The route lies on the territory of Laeken, a sub-municipality of Brussels-City. ‘This project fits in with the 10-minute city, a concept with which we want to create schools, nurseries, public transport and other facilities in every neighbourhood’, says Mayor Philippe Close (PS). At the same time, the nuisance caused by car traffic must be reduced.