Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Hasselt installed a traffic barrier on Borggravevijversstraat near KIDS and De Berk schools. Alderman Kevin Schouterden reported 600–700 cars per hour previously. Barrier closes during school hours, city staff guiding motorists.
As VRT News reported, a new traffic barrier was put into operation today, Jan 5, 2025, on Borggravevijversstraat in Hasselt near the KIDS and De Berk schools. The barrier is intended to prevent cut-through traffic and improve safety for residents, students, and cyclists.
Officials mentioned that traffic on the street has grown significantly in recent years, causing concern among local authorities and the community. Previous counts by the city of Hasselt showed that an average of 3,300 vehicles passed through the street on a normal weekday.
How does the new barrier on Borggravevijversstraat improve safety near Hasselt schools?
City studies also found that 70% to 90% of the traffic on Borggravevijversstraat was cut-through traffic. Many drivers used the street as a shortcut between Kempische Steenweg and Genkersteenweg or Universiteitslaan.
In the opposite direction, traffic mainly travelled from the lock or Genkersteenweg toward the Corda Campus and further to Zonhoven. The new barrier is expected to reduce this through traffic while keeping access for residents.
The barrier was added after requests from residents and the schools. Earlier, on December 22, 2025, Nieuwe Heidestraat became a one-way street. Vehicles now travel from the railway crossing toward Borggravevijversstraat.
Today, Jan 5, 2025, the first school day after the Christmas holidays, the city carried out the second intervention with the opening of the barrier. These actions are part of a long-term plan to protect school zones. There were concerns about traffic congestion due to the heavy flow of vehicles.
“At peak times, 600 to 700 cars per hour passed here,”
says Alderman for Mobility Kevin Schouterden (Vooruit), who arrived on the scene to inform passersby about the changed traffic situation.
“This created unsafe situations for children and residents. That’s why we decided to create a school street closed off by a barrier.”
“We expected some disruption on this first day after the Christmas holidays, as all the children from the boarding school arrive on Monday.”
Schouterden continues.
“But all in all, the disruption has been very limited. The schools allowed sufficient time to inform parents about the barrier and the new situation. We also informed residents promptly. That helped avoid any potential chaos.”
The barrier will remain closed during school hours and open after 6 p.m., on weekends, and during school holidays. Emergency services, police, and De Lijn public transport will always have free access. For the next 2 weeks, city staff will be present daily during the barrier’s closure to inform motorists and ensure the new traffic rules are followed.
In early 2023, similar measures were done before in Kuringen – Trajectory Control System and School Streets are examples of controlling motor/calming traffic during peak hours at key times. They will also help manage traffic over the long term, reduce congestion and create safer street environments around schools and neighbourhoods.
