Wetteren (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Roads and Traffic Agency and Wetteren municipality finalised plans to rebuild 2 km of N407, upgrade Slekkebeek and Bourgondisch Kruis intersections, with construction set after the 2026 summer holiday.
As VRT News reported, the Roads and Traffic Agency (AW) has finalised plans to completely rebuild the Kalkensteenweg and Kapellendries (N407) between the Laarne-Wetteren municipal boundary and the Tragelweg, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium.
The project was delayed for 3 years due to legal proceedings. The redevelopment covers about 2 kilometres and aims to improve safety. The plans include central medians to control traffic, new pedestrian crossings, upgraded cycle paths, and modern bus stops.
How will AW and Wetteren upgrade 2 km of N407 and key intersections?
AW and the municipality of Wetteren will provide detailed information to residents and interested parties. Public updates and information sessions will explain the construction process, timeline, and expected impact on daily traffic. The agency plans to appoint a contractor by summer. If the schedule goes smoothly, construction can begin after the 2026 construction holiday.
The N407 will be completely rebuilt over a stretch of about 2 kilometres. The Slekkebeek intersection will receive major upgrades. Central islands will be built to better organise traffic, and a short exit lane to Slekkebeek will be added.
Preliminary plans are also underway for the N42, including the Oosterzelesteenweg. A full reconstruction has not yet been scheduled, but there is a clear vision for the section between the on- and off-ramp complex and the Bourgondisch Kruis intersection. Construction will only start once all approvals and funding are in place.
The Bourgondisch Kruis intersection will stay an intersection, but will be completely redesigned. It will become a traffic-signal-controlled junction with longer lanes and safe bicycle crossings. Traffic lights will also be installed at Oude Heerbaan to create a safe crossing for cyclists. These lights will be coordinated with the signals at Bourgondisch Kruis to keep traffic moving smoothly.
A 2-way cycle path will be added on the Mariagaard side. The existing traffic lights at Mariagaard and Vantegem in the industrial zone will stay, but cyclists and pedestrians will use a new bicycle tunnel to cross safely. The interchange with the E40 will remain but will be redesigned. Optimised entry and exit ramps will reduce conflict points.
The N407 and N42 roads have been planned to be upgraded for many years, and proposals for the N407 stretch near Kalkensteenweg and Kapellendries were proposed as early as 2022 in the application, but they experienced delays when a legal challenge was brought.
The Slekkebeek and Bourgondisch Kruis intersections have long been recognised as risky areas for cyclists and pedestrians. Preliminary studies for the N42, including the Oosterzelesteenweg, started in 2023 to improve traffic flow and reduce conflict points near the E40 interchange. With plans finalised in 2025.
