Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Brussels is rebuilding streets in Neder-Over-Heembeek, including Vekemansstraat to improve the neighbourhood. Residents report cracks and noise from Tram 10. MIVB spokesperson Laurent Vermeersch says materials need time to settle. Café owner Helene Clepkens complains about noise and lost parking.
The city of Brussels is rebuilding some streets in the Neder-Over-Heembeek district. Officials mentioned that this is part of a bigger plan to improve the area. One of the streets being rebuilt is Vekemansstraat. It is a big shopping area.
People who live in the area are unhappy with how the streets are being rebuilt. They say there are cracks, broken concrete, and small holes in the new roads. These problems happened soon after the work was finished.
The residents think the work was done too quickly or with bad materials. They are worried the new roads won’t last very long. According to Laurent Vermeersch, spokesperson for the MIVB the company that is in charge of the project, these problems are normal. He says the materials need time to settle. This can cause small problems.
Are Brussels’ Vekemasstraat repairs and tram 10 causing more problems?
Some people in the area are still not sure about the company’s explanation. They think the work was done too quickly and that this might have caused problems. The company says they didn’t use cheaper materials, and the work was done well.
They mentioned that sometimes people think the work is bad when it’s just a small problem that will be fixed. This has happened in other cities, like London and Singapore. They said that only time will tell if the problems in Brussels are temporary or if there are bigger problems. The company will keep checking the roads and fix any problems right away.
Vermeersch said:
The construction of tram 10 was indeed done at a fast pace, because we worked with a large team of contractors. But no savings were made on materials.
People who live in Frans Vekemansstraat and Heembeeksestraat and work there are also upset about the new tram line. They said that the tram is very noisy, and it makes it hard for people to enjoy sitting outside at cafes. The tram also took away parking spaces, so fewer people are walking by shops. Shop owners are worried that the changes meant to make the area better are making it worse.
The tram makes a lot of noise for my customers on the terrace, and because of the disappearance of parking spaces, fewer people pass by,
Helene Clepkens, a café owner in the street says.
