Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) September 12, 2026 – Essential infrastructure maintenance work scheduled along the crucial Brussels-Antwerp transit corridor will trigger significant traffic delays and road closures throughout the coming weekend. Motorists traveling between the two major urban hubs face partial and total lane closures at the strategic Machelen and Antwerp-South interchanges starting Friday evening. Transport management bodies have issued urgent advisories asking drivers to avoid affected segments and utilize designated regional diversions.
Major Infrastructure Maintenance Planned for Vital Transport Corridor
The Flemish Traffic Centre (Vlaams Verkeerscentrum) has formally alerted road users across the region to prepare for widespread congestion along the vital Brussels-Antwerp arterial route starting Friday, September 11. The disruptions stem from two major, simultaneous infrastructure maintenance projects managed by infrastructure companies De Werkvennootschap and the Agency for Roads and Traffic (Agentschap Wegen en Verkeer).
According to structural plans released by transport administrators, physical works will focus primarily on two key logistical choke points: the Machelen interchange connecting the Brussels Outer Ring (R0) to the E19 motorway, and the Antwerp-South interchange linking the Antwerp Ring Road (R1) toward the Craeybeckx Tunnel.
Partial Lane Closures Scheduled at Machelen Interchange
Starting Friday evening, September 11, at 8:00 PM, construction crews under the direction of De Werkvennootschap will begin structural interventions at the Machelen interchange (R0/E19). The operations will restrict capacity for motorists traveling on the Brussels Outer Ring (R0) from the direction of Zaventem, Sint-Stevens-Woluwe, and Waterloo heading northbound toward Antwerp via the E19.
Throughout the maintenance window, which is set to run continuously until at most 5:00 AM on Monday, September 14, traffic traversing this connecting loop will be constrained to a single operational lane.
Potential Impact on Brussels Outer Ring Traffic Flow
Officials from the Flemish Traffic Centre have warned that restricting capacity on such a high-density interchange will inevitably bottleneck local traffic streams and lead to substantial tailbacks reaching far onto the main R0 ring road body.
“The partial closure of the busy connecting loop to the E19 will lead to local traffic jams and possibly significant delays on the Brussels outer ring R0,”
stated Peter Bruyninckx, official spokesperson for the Flemish Traffic Centre.
Complete Resurfacing to Block Craeybeckx Tunnel Access
Concurrently, a complete road closure will take place further north on the axis near the entrance to Antwerp. Beginning Friday, September 11, at 10:00 PM, the Agency for Roads and Traffic will initiate full resurfacing operations on the connecting loop at the Antwerp-South interchange (R1/E19/A12).
The target area specifically affects traffic traveling on the Antwerp Ring Road (R1) in the direction of Ghent—encompassing vehicles coming from northern directions and the Netherlands—that intends to merge directly onto the E19 toward Brussels.
To accommodate the road surface renewal, contractors will completely seal off the connecting loop leading directly into the Craeybeckx Tunnel. This full closure will remain active continuously throughout the weekend until Sunday evening, September 13, at 6:00 PM.
Official Travel Recommendations and Alternative Route Guidance
The Flemish Traffic Centre emphasized that the total shutdown of the Craeybeckx Tunnel link will severely restrict capacity along the southern approach to Antwerp, generating notable daytime congestion. Authorities have established local detour routes around the closed interchange; however, motorists taking these diversions are instructed to anticipate heavy, slow-moving traffic throughout Saturday and Sunday.
To mitigate the anticipated gridlock across the entire region, transport authorities are strongly advising all long-distance and local motorists to avoid traveling through the Machelen and Antwerp-South interchanges whenever possible. Drivers planning to transit between Brussels and Antwerp over the weekend are encouraged to adjust their departure times, seek alternative regional routes well clear of the affected interchanges, or utilize public transport networks.
