Herentals (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The city’s tourist tower are closed due to rotted supporting beams compromising safety. Mayor Jan Bertels prioritizes repairs, with the tower itself remaining safe. The cafeteria remains open.
The viewing platforms in the Herentals, Belgium, are unsafe and closed to the public. Inspectors recently discovered significant damage to the supporting beams. This damage raised serious safety concerns. The interconnections between the beams and columns in the northwest and southeast corners of the building were especially impacted.
The authorities explained that the exterior part of the wood appeared well, but upon closer examination, it was discovered that the wood beneath had rotted. This decayed wood compromised the bearing strength of the floors. The deterioration of the supporting beams has compromised the structural integrity of the platforms, making them unsafe for public use.
Why did the Herentals tourist tower close, and when will they reopen?
According to the mayor Jan Bertels of the Vooruit party, the city will not take any risks with the safety of its residents and visitors. The city has decided to close the viewing platforms until the necessary repairs can be made.
The city wishes to ensure that the building is safe for occupation. The authorities are treating the matter seriously and have prioritized the safety of the public. Until the damage is completely remedied, the platforms will continue to be closed to prevent anyone from being harmed by the compromised structure.
According to the officials, the viewing platforms are closed, but the tower is safe. Authorities have said that even though the supporting beams on the platforms are damaged, the tower is strong and won’t collapse. No parts of the tower will fall off. There’s no need to close off the area around the tower.
The city council is working on fixing the viewing platforms. They are attempting to determine how long it will take to render the platforms secure. They want to reopen the tower soon, but it’s poor timing since the peak tourist season commences this weekend.
They said the cafeteria on the bottom floor is still open. Visitors can still go there, even though the viewing platforms are closed. The city wants to fix the platforms quickly so that tourists can enjoy the tower again.
