Ostend (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ostend, with the Roads and Traffic Agency, plans to ease congestion on Torhoutsesteenweg by grouping 92 shop entrances, adding 4 pedestrian crossings, with Alderman Judith Ooms leading improvements.
As VRT News reported, Ostend is working to ease traffic problems on Torhoutsesteenweg. The city is working with the Roads and Traffic Agency on a new mobility plan. They mentioned that Torhoutsesteenweg is a busy road that leads into the city. Many large shops line the street.
How will Ostend ease traffic on Torhoutsesteenweg with 92 entrances and 4 crossings?
According to officials, one of the main measures focuses on parking. Instead of each shop having its own parking lot with separate entrances, parking spaces will be grouped for several stores. This will reduce the number of driveways along the road.
“There are 92 entrances and exits at the shops, and that hinders traffic flow,”
says Alderman for Mobility Judith Ooms (Vooruit Plus)
Ostend will install 4 new pedestrian crossings on Torhoutsesteenweg. The crossings will separate pedestrians from vehicles and reduce the risk of accidents. City officials hope the changes will encourage more walking and reduce short car trips that add to traffic jams.
“The aim is to have these improvements completed by June of next year. This will allow shoppers to access multiple stores from a single parking lot. This will reduce traffic and improve traffic flow,”
City officials said.
In the long term, the Roads and Traffic Agency will conduct a detailed study of traffic on Torhoutsesteenweg. The study will examine traffic patterns, congestion points, and safety issues. It may recommend changes to intersections, traffic lights, lanes, or other road structures.
“We are considering, for example, a separation between through traffic and shopping traffic. We hope to achieve this within this legislative term,”
says the alderman.
In 2019, Sint‑Niklaas carried out a similar project to improve traffic and parking in the city centre. On Vijfstraten, some on-street parking was removed to make space for bike lanes. At the same time, residents were allowed to use the nearby supermarket’s parking lot.
The project reduced traffic congestion and made the streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians. It was part of the city’s wider “Park4SUMP” mobility plan to improve traffic flow and manage parking more efficiently.
