Four trucks collide with Merksem viaduct: long traffic jams around Antwerp (Merksem)
Due to an accident between four trucks on the Merksem viaduct on the Antwerp Ring, there are long traffic jams around Antwerp on Thursday. Towards the Netherlands, only two lanes are available. Three of the fours have to be hoisted, the hindrance will continue for a long time.
The accident happened around 1 p.m. In a starting traffic jam, just before the new traffic situation at the broken bridge joint on the Merksem viaduct, four trucks collided with each other. “Due to the accident, two of the four lanes are currently free,” said Peter Bruyninckx of the Flemish Traffic Center.
Three of the four trucks have to be towed. No one would have been hit. “We hear that the hoisting can take a long time,” says Bruyninckx. The towing services are difficult on the spot and were escorted by the road police until the accident.
In any case, the accident causes heavy files around Antwerp. On the Antwerp Ring itself you have to queue for 45 minutes towards the Netherlands, on the E17 from before Kruibeke there is an extra half hour. Also on the E313 from the Kempen, on the A12 and E19 from Brussels and the E34 from the Waasland, everything is hopelessly still.
“The Liefkenshoek tunnel has been temporarily made toll-free towards the Netherlands, but there was also very busy traffic there. So we can really only recommend avoiding the area if possible,” says Bruyninckx. The stocks are expected to last at least until the evening rush hour.