Poperinge (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Residents near Den Braband in Heuvelland are worried about accidents caused by speeding and icy roads. After a car crashed into Wouter Six’s house, they wanted safety barriers and a bike path. Tom, a local, spreads salt on the slippery road himself, but authorities like Ben Desmyter are now planning better salt spreading to make the area safer.
Residents near the dangerous bend at ‘Den Braband’ in Heuvelland are worried about road safety. According to officials, speeding drivers cause many accidents. The sharp curve, where the Poperingse Westouterseweg changes to the Heuvellandse Poperingestraat, is a known problem area.
What road safety measures do Poperinge residents want?
Authorities plan to fix the road near the dangerous bend, but residents think this is not enough. They want stronger safety measures. They suggest putting up barriers around homes and the local café to protect people from speeding cars.
Residents also want a safe bike path to keep cyclists safe and provide extra space between the road and houses. They hope these changes will stop more accidents and protect everyone in the area. Residents are asking for quick action to prevent another crash from happening.
“We would like to have bollards or safety barriers around the houses and the cafe so that pedestrians are safe. If possible, a protected cycle path. That way, all vulnerable road users are protected, as well as the houses” says Wouter Six.
According to officials, the icy road at the intersection between Poperinge and Heuvelland is a serious problem. The 2 towns do not work together to fix it. They mentioned that since the crossing is on the border, neither town takes care of spreading salt in winter. This makes the road very slippery and dangerous for drivers and pedestrians. A local man named Tom has started to help by waking up early to spread salt on the road.
Ben Desmyter, the alderman for Public Works in Poperinge, announced that they are taking steps to solve the icy road issue. On Wednesday, February 13, 2025, officials from Poperinge and Heuvelland met to discuss how to better organize their salt-spreading routes.
They agreed to work together to make sure the intersection gets regular salt treatment. With these new plans, residents can expect safer roads in winter. People like Tom will not have to handle it alone anymore.
“The problem also lies with the gritting services. The intersection is on the border with Heuvelland. Neither municipality grits this location” According to Ben Desmyter (CD&V).
Earlier this month, a car lost control and crashed into Wouter Six’s house. This happened right behind the room where his two-year-old son, Maurice, was sleeping. No one was injured in this crash. Wouter says this is not the first time this has happened. Similar crashes have damaged nearby homes in recent years. Residents fear that a more serious accident could happen soon.
