Dilsen-Stokkem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Dilsen-Stokkem is building a 1.2 km bike path from Heuvelsvenlaan to Kolenspoor, costing €265,000. Mayor Sofie Vandeweerd emphasizes safety and sustainability, with completion expected by September 2025.
As VRT News reported, the municipality of Dilsen-Stokkem in the Limburg province, Belgium, plans to enhance the cycling infrastructure of the city through the construction of a new bicycle path. The path will stretch 1.2 kilometres long and link the terminus of Heuvelsvenlaan to the Kolenspoor, an old railway trail tourist bike path.
According to officials’ statement, cyclists currently have to ride on Boslaan, a congested regional road that runs between Hasselt and Dilsen-Stokkem. Since Boslaan is heavily trafficked, it can be hazardous for cyclists, so it is not an option many prefer. They said the new cycle path would not just be safer but also more enjoyable, offering a quiet journey through an attractive area, bypassing the traffic and din of the congested road.
How will Dilsen-Stokkem’s new 1.2km bike path improve cycling?
The mayor of Dilsen-Stokkem, Sofie Vandeweerd, says the new bike path will make cycling much better for people in the area. The new route will provide cyclists with a convenient and straightforward means to travel from the Kolenspoor to where they reside. The city intends to enhance its bike routes to provide individuals with greater means of commuting, making the community more active, sustainable, and connected.
“This way, they can easily take the cycle highway from Kolenspoor to Dilsen, Rotem, Elen, Maaseik and As or follow the tourist cycle route network,”
Says the mayor.
“For youth bivouac Heuvelsven, the new cycle path will also be an extra asset.”
The new bike path in Dilsen-Stokkem will start being built in the summer of 2025, after the construction break. Work in the forest will wait until after the birds have finished nesting to protect them. The project will cost about 265,000 euros and will give cyclists a new way to get around.
If everything goes as planned, the path will be open by September 2025. Officials mentioned that this new path will make it safer and easier for people to cycle in the area. The city is working hard to be a place that supports cycling and is a leader in sustainable transportation.
The city has a plan to make cycling better. Since 2020, they have invested 5 million euros in building new and safer bike paths. The goal is to get more people to cycle and use bikes for transportation. Their hard work was recognised when they won the Cycling City 2024 award.
