Roeselare (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): The Roeselare-Leie Canal, crucial for local trade with nearly 4,000 ships annually, will be upgraded with Flemish government funding. Mayor Kris Declerca and Deputy Jean de Bethune emphasize its economic and environmental importance.
The Roeselare-Leie canal is essential for the local economy, with Mayor Kris Declerca calling it the “economic aorta” of the region. Nearly 4,000 ships use the canal yearly, making it a key route for transport and trade. Many big companies are located along the canal, depending on it to move their goods and materials efficiently.
What upgrades will improve the Roeselare-Leie canal?
Many buildings and structures around the canal, like bridges, quay walls, and locks, are old and need to be updated. For years, the cities and towns along the canal have been asking for money to fix these aging parts because they know that upgrades are important for keeping the canal important for the local economy. Modernizing these structures would allow the canal to handle more traffic and make it safer and more efficient, which is crucial for the businesses that rely on it.
The new Flemish government is providing funds to improve the canal, which will help remove over 250,000 trucks from the roads, reducing traffic and pollution. This will also benefit cyclists and water sports fans. Over the next 10 years, there will be upgrades in several towns, including making the canal deeper, fixing bridges, and improving bike paths. Roeselare will rebuild some areas, Izegem will get new quay walls, and Oostrozebeke will have a new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists, along with a new business park. This will help develop the local economy.
According to Deputy Jean de Bethune (CD&V), this project is a great teamwork between local authorities, the province of West Flanders, and the Flemish Waterway. They will fix the water tank and invest in green areas and bike paths. He is excited about how they are mixing climate care with economic growth. They want to start soon because it’s a key time for taking eco-friendly steps, and even though it costs a lot, the European government can pay for half of it.
