Genk (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Mayor Wim Dries is pushing for urgent safety improvements at Stationsplein in Genk after recent accidents. Plans involve NMBS and De Lin, with redevelopment aimed for completion in 4-5 years.
Plans to improve the Stationsplein in Genk have been discussed. Mayor Wim Dries mentioned that they want to make the area safer for traffic, as there have been 5 to 6 accidents, mostly causing damage. After a recent fatal accident, Dries is calling for urgent meetings with all partners involved. NMBS owns the square, and Di Lijn collaborates with them for the bus stops. They aim to meet soon to find ways to increase safety and prevent more serious accidents.
How will Genk’s Stationsplein improve safety amid confusion and accidents?
According to the mayor, there is a lot of confusion at Stationsplein. He believes they need to improve visibility, parking rules, and safety for crossing the street. NMBS and De Lin must agree on these plans before construction. The city wants to act quickly. Bus drivers also think it could be safer. One driver mentioned it’s hard to keep an eye on everything while driving and suggested using fences and making the pedestrian crossing wider, maybe with traffic lights, to help keep everyone safe.
People are worried about safety at Stationsplein. One person said it’s dangerous to cross near the taxis because bus drivers may not notice pedestrians, and they’ve had some close calls. Another person mentioned that the platform gets crowded, and even with a warning sign, it can still be risky. Mayor Wim Dries wants to make a deal next year to receive money to rebuild the station area. He hopes the new area will be ready in 4 to 5 years and wants to improve Europalaan from the police station to Molenvijverpark to make public transport better.
