Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper): A new bridge over the E40 in Drongen, costing €8 million, is too narrow for heavy trucks, causing traffic jams and accidents. Spokesman Jef Schoenmaekers noted urgent fixes, including a temporary ramp for the transporter. The situation affects local businesses significantly.
Last summer, a new bridge over the E40 in Drongen was discovered to be too narrow for the heavy trucks from a nearby industrial area. Because of this design mistake, trucks couldn’t pass each other, which caused long traffic jams. The problem worsened when an accident happened on the bridge due to the limited space, resulting in permanent damage to the structure.
What solutions are being considered for Ghent’s narrow E40 bridge?
Local businesses are facing delays in moving their goods, and because the bridge is damaged, officials are thinking about changing its design. They might fix the bridge or make it wider so that it can safely handle heavy trucks in the future.
The road authority admitted that the old bridge was in poor condition and needed a quick fix. Spokesman Jef Schoenmaekers said, “The road has become too narrow, and we didn’t have time for land purchases. We also had to create a separate path for cyclists and pedestrians.” The agency has put up signs and promised to work on the problem. There isn’t a long-term solution yet, but a temporary fix is in place to help with the biggest issues.
A temporary ramp is being built to let trucks from the industrial area get to the motorway without using the narrow bridge. The work will start on 15th October at night and will take about two weeks, happening only at night to keep things quiet. The agency said they need to widen the hard shoulder and move the crash barriers to build the ramp safely, and they will also change the roundabout in the business area. After the ramp is finished allow only regular cars to pass to avoid problems.
