Dendermonde (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A bicycle and pedestrian tunnel near Dendermonde station will link AZ Sint-Blasius to 5 cycle highways. Construction began in 2025 and is expected to finish in 3 years, improving safety and mobility.
As VRT News reported, a new bicycle and pedestrian tunnel is under construction near Dendermonde station. 5 major cycle highways meet in the city. These are the F44 from Ghent to Mechelen, the F43 from Aalst to Sint-Niklaas, the F19 from Dendermonde to Boom, the F221 from Dendermonde to Asse, and the F413 from Lokeren to Dendermonde. The tunnel will connect all 5 routes. Cyclists and pedestrians will be able to pass safely under busy streets and railway lines.
What will Dendermonde’s new tunnel mean for AZ Sint-Blasius and 5-cycle highways?
According to officials, the tunnel will create a direct connection between AZ Sint-Blasius Hospital and the station. Patients, staff, and visitors will be able to walk or cycle safely without crossing busy streets or railway lines.
According to Eeckhout, the project will make daily travel easier for residents.
“This way, they can take a safe route to the station via Kalendijk. They no longer have to cross the busy Sint-Gillislaan or go through the station roundabout.”
The tunnel is expected to be completed within the next 3 years. Authorities say the tunnel will reduce congestion, improve safety, and support more cycling and walking in the area.
Dendermonde has been a key hub for cyclists in East Flanders for many years. Plans for a new bicycle and pedestrian tunnel near the station were first proposed in 2019 to improve safety and travel for residents. Construction officially started in 2025 after studies and planning by local authorities.
Similar projects have been completed in Belgium in recent years to improve safety and access for cyclists and pedestrians. In 2018, a tunnel opened under the Brussels North railway junction, connecting neighbourhoods and major cycling routes. In 2020, Leuven built a bicycle and pedestrian tunnel under Diestsesteenweg, linking the city centre with residential areas and regional cycle highways. In 2021, Ghent completed a tunnel near Gent-Sint-Pieters station.
