Antwerp (The Brussels morning Newspaper): Heavy traffic at Antwerp’s Kennedy Tunnel prompts drivers to use the Waasland Tunnel, causing congestion and local disturbances. Authorities aim to manage this by discouraging non-local traffic and lowering speed limits.
During busy times drivers going from Antwerp often avoid the heavy traffic at the Kennedy Tunnel by taking a different route through the Waasland Tunnel. The Kennedy Tunnel an important road on Antwerp’s ring road often has long delays because of too many vehicles. To get around these traffic jams many drivers use the Waasland Tunnel,which connects the city to the Waasland area and the E34 motorway providing a faster option. However taking this detour can cause more traffic in the Waasland Tunnel especially during busy travel times. To handle this traffic authorities use different methods like providing real-time updates and changing traffic flow. In the future plans to reduce congestion may include making roads bigger and improving public transportation options to help spread out the traffic better.
How are navigation apps impacting traffic in Antwerp?
Navigation apps like Waze and Google Maps often tell drivers to use the Waasland Tunnel to avoid traffic at the Kennedy Tunnel during busy hours. These apps look at real-time traffic data to suggest the fastest routes which usually means directing drivers through the Waasland Tunnel. While this helps travelers save time it can cause problems for local residents. Residents on the Left Bank of Antwerp where the Waasland Tunnel is often feel frustrated with the extra traffic. The increase in vehicles using local roads because of the navigation apps can cause more noise, air pollution and disturbances in their neighborhoods. This extra traffic can overwhelm local roads and affect the quality of life for people living nearby. As a result these communities have been asking for better ways to manage traffic flow and reduce the impact of these navigation suggestions on their areas.
Stefanie Nagels from Roads and Traffic says that by stopping cars that are just passing through the Waasland Tunnel they hope navigation apps will stop suggesting that route. They want drivers who aren’t local to use the Kennedy Tunnel or the tunnels in the port area instead. Local traffic means anyone going to the Left Bank like residents, workers, or visitors to restaurants so they won’t be affected by this change. The city of Antwerp says it’s unlikely that people who keep using the Waasland Tunnel without needing to go to Linkeroever will get fined. Alderman Koen Kennis said they don’t plan to check for this but want to reduce traffic. Earlier this year they also lowered the speed limit in the tunnel from 50 to 30 kilometers per hour because the tunnel is old and in bad condition. This is to help keep the tunnel from getting too busy.
