Sint-Niklaas (Brussels Morning Newspaper) ā The Moerlandstraat in Sint-Niklaas will be totally shut off for motor vehicles in between Parklaan and August Nobelstraat starting from Monday, September 21st until Friday, October 16th as part of the efforts by the city to undertake an important stage of work to redevelop the intersection of Parklaan ā Moerlandstraat. This will be done with the objective of making the intersection safer as well as better for cyclists. The closure will be for the stretch of Moerlandstraat which connects Parklaan with August Nobelstraat.
Why is the intersection being redesigned?
The Sint-Niklaas city authorities describe the project as an effort to create a
āsafer intersection and better cycling connection.āĀ
This redesign project aims at improving how vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians travel in the area, as well as establishing connections for bicycles that run between Parklaan, Moerlandstraat and the streets of the city centre. This intersection is a vital local connection close to the city centre. Moerlandstraat is the road that leads to August Nobelstraat and Kokkelplein, while Parklaan connects this area to the central part of Sint-Niklaas and its public facilities. City authorities have decided to divide this project into several stages in order to decrease disruption caused by the works. These works wonāt be carried out in one single stage.
When will Moerlandstraat be closed?
The second phase of the project will run from September 21 to October 16, 2026. During this period, Moerlandstraat will be fully closed between Parklaan and August Nobelstraat.
The closure will mainly affect motorists. Any motorists using the area must abide by all temporary signs and any new routes made by the city. The provided notice only provides information about the road closure but not the full route map and information about all access details. The project schedule for the city shows that there are additional phases following the closure of the Moerlandstraat road. Construction on the KBC side of the junction will be done between October 19 and October 30, while construction on the city park side of the junction will be done starting November 9.
Which roads and facilities could be affected?
This will definitely affect drivers traveling from Moerlandstraat to August Nobelstraat, Kokkelplein and other centrally located roads. People living in the vicinity, shop owners, delivery people and visitors must plan accordingly. This area is crucial due to the fact that Moerlandstraat provides access near the AZ Nikolaas campus. Information about the parking of the hospital mentions the Moerlandstraat site and the underground car park as an important entry point for the people visiting and working in the hospital. However, there is no information available about the fact that the hospital and the car park will be closed for the duration of the construction works.
Has the area faced similar closures before?
Several traffic restrictions have been enforced previously due to the implementation of infrastructure projects at the Parklaan and city-centre location. Utility works in 2022 related to the upgrading of the Grote Markt have had an impact on the Parklaan zone. One of the phases involved the closure of the crossing of Parklaan at the junction with Kokkelbeekstraat and Hendrik Heymanplein. The traffic access to the area has been prohibited but pedestrians could pass through. Car access has been retained; cars could turn on Parklaan and enter August Nobelstraat, Kokkelplein and Moerlandstraat. Traffic regulations have been updated in 2024 while reconstructing the Grote Markt. The construction project started in May.
