Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Deinsesteenweg bridge (N466) over the E40 in Drongen-Baarle near Ghent, reopened in September after a 6-month construction, restoring a vital route used by 1,500 daily commuters; part of Flemish bridge renewal.
As VRT News reported, the Deinsesteenweg bridge (N466) across the E40 in Drongen-Baarle near Ghent is open again after months of construction. Now that the new bridge is finished, the direct link between Drongen and Deinze is in use again. The modern structure is built to today’s standards.
What happened during the Deinsesteenweg bridge works near Ghent, affecting 1,500 daily users?
The roadworks on the Deinsesteenweg bridge over the E40 led to long detours and unrest among residents and commuters in Drongen. Several activist groups expressed support for people affected by the disruption. Complaints were raised about the lack of clear signage. Some groups called for a tunnel instead of a replacement bridge.
According to officials, the work was finished sooner than planned, with the replacement completed in less than 6 months. On the last night, the E40 motorway was closed one last time to remove construction signs and add the final road markings. A new bridge had already been built on Kloosterstraat, though that structure needed adjustments.
The old bridge was in poor condition and no longer met safety rules, so it was taken down and replaced. Work began on March 31, 2025, and caused major disruption in the area. The bridge is used daily by about 1,500 people, including motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.
During the closure, cars had to take a detour of more than 10 kilometres via Nevele and Sint-Denijs-Westrem. Pedestrians, cyclists, and school buses were directed to a smaller bridge nearby.
The project also affected traffic on the E40, one of Belgium’s busiest motorways. A temporary on- and off-ramp was set up to keep the Drongen industrial estate reachable for trucks and suppliers.
The replacement of the Deinsesteenweg bridge (N466) over the E40 in Drongen-Baarle is part of a wider renewal programme led by the Flemish Roads and Traffic Agency to upgrade ageing motorway bridges in East Flanders. Many of these bridges were built in the 1960s and 1970s.
