De Hutten Genk residents frustrated by Fluvius roadworks

Genk (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Residents of De Hutten, Genk, led by Patrick Kaerts, are frustrated by repeated roadworks. Alderman Karel Kriekemans urges better coordination, earlier Fluvius notices, and proper street restoration.

As VRT News reported, residents of De Hutten in Genk say they are tired of constant disruption in their street. On the Facebook group for the Termien neighbourhood, many people report growing irritation. They point out that their street is being dug up again, even though earlier works only recently ended. The neighbourhood faces repeated drilling, demolition and utility projects that are not being coordinated. Residents mention noise, dust and blocked access as daily problems. 

What is causing repeated Fluvius roadworks in De Hutten, Genk?

For resident Patrick Kaerts, the latest digging marks the moment when patience has run out.

“This is the last straw,”

Kaerts says. He and other residents now call on the city to organise better coordination between services. They want timely updates and a clear plan that prevents the same street from being opened again and again.

“I don’t blame the city, because they did a great job of resurfacing the verges after the last roadworks,”

says Karts.

“The reseeded grass was just starting to emerge, and now it’s being destroyed again. That way, you can keep busy. My newly paved driveway has also been dug up again. It was barely two months old, but the first four rows had already been dug up and laid loose. That way, you can keep busy.”

Alderman for Public Works Karel Kriekemans (CD&V) says he is aware of the concerns raised by the residents of De Hutten. His office has received several reports about the repeated work and the lack of clear updates. A major complaint involves the late notice from Fluvius, the company responsible for the project. 

“The various projects in De Hutten are activities that we would also prefer to see carried out in synergy.”

Kriekemans responded.

“This is also being mandated in Flanders, but unfortunately, in practice, it doesn’t always happen. We see that suppliers have a specific rollout plan, but aren’t yet ready to roll it out in another area when another contractor starts there. As a result, these projects don’t always run in tandem.”

Residents say the letter announcing the works arrived only one day before the start date, leaving them no time to adjust travel plans or prepare for noise and blocked access. Many in the neighbourhood feel the communication came far too late for such a large operation.

“On a Tuesday evening, no less, while the work started Wednesday morning,” Kaerts explains.

“Who empties their mailbox on a Tuesday evening?”

Kriekemans says he takes these remarks seriously and has contacted Fluvius about the matter. He states that residents must be informed earlier and more clearly when major works are planned. He also notes that better coordination is needed to prevent the same street from being opened several times in a short period.

“When communication fails, trust fails,”

he says. The alderman now wants firmer agreements with utility companies so that neighbourhoods like De Hutten are not confronted with last-minute notices and unexpected disruption.

“We ensure that residents are well-informed and that the public space is properly restored,”

the alderman said.

“To achieve this, we employ three supervisors. If they find anything unacceptable, we will declare the contractor in default. I also want to emphasise that it’s important to us that everyone has access to good utilities, so it’s good that new investments are being made. But the goal remains to minimise disruption as much as possible and fully repair the damage.”

The issues in De Hutten date back to a series of utility works that began in the Termien neighbourhood in early 2024, when Fluvius started renewing old electricity and cable lines. The first digging in the street took place in February 2024, followed by more work in June 2024 to replace extra connections. 

A new round of repairs and road surfacing was carried out in October 2024, and residents thought the works were finished for some time. In March 2025, however, Fluvius launched another upgrade plan for several parts of Genk, which brought workers back to the area. The most recent phase which began in November 2025.