Disagreements stall plans to redevelop Louise roundabout

Plans to redevelop the Louise roundabout have stalled following disagreement among members of the Brussels government, some of whom say the project cannot go ahead in its current form.

The redevelopment of the busy roundabout was due to be completed by the end of the summer. Road traffic was to be reduced to a single lane and the square would offer more space for the pedestrians and cyclists who frequent the area.

Mobility minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) intended to give the go-ahead for the redevelopment this month, but Brussels minister-president Boris Dilliès (MR) said that a new agreement must first be reached.

“This project was inherited from the previous government and has already caused controversy in the past. It cannot be implemented in its current form,” said Dilliès.

The layout of the roundabout is inextricably linked to the wider redevelopment project for Boulevard du Waterloo and Avenue de la Toison d'Or, Dilliès said.

“The minister-president has asked Elke Van den Brandt to suspend all work until the government has drawn up a comprehensive and coordinated vision for the area and for the car tunnels on Avenue Louise," a statement from Dilliès' office said.

“The relevant ministries and administrative bodies must find a comprehensive solution by 30 June at the latest that promotes mobility for all users.

"A new government is in power and the minister-president also wishes to seize this as an opportunity to introduce forms of governance focused on cooperation.”

This shift is unexpected, as the plans for the redevelopment were in the final stages.

The roundabout is due to be enhanced with additional traffic islands, wider kerbs and more greenery, with work carried out in phases to minimise disruption as much as possible and ensure completion by the end of the summer.

It was selected as a priority project because data shows the location is the site of serious accidents, and a permit for the project was already issued.

“The Louise roundabout is one of the most dangerous junctions in the region. Anyone who has ever passed through it knows that,” Van den Brandt told Bruzz in a reaction to the postponement.

“To make this location safer, a project was drawn up and a permit issued. On top of that, there is a notice of default from urban.brussels obliging us to carry out the works before the end of the year.”

Van den Brandt’s office also noted that the budget for the redevelopment has already been allocated to the project, and the minister said returning to an unsafe situation is simply not an option.

“Nor is maintaining the current illegal situation while pedestrians, tram users and cyclists cross the roundabout every day,” she said.

“The roundabout is a very complex junction for all modes of transport. It’s been fitted with marked cycle lanes to give cyclists a proper place on the road, improve safety at the junction and better organise motor traffic.

"Before these markings were introduced, the roundabout was particularly dangerous for pedestrians. They had to cross three lanes of traffic in one go.

"This type of layout is inherently risky, particularly due to poor visibility. When a vehicle stops to let a pedestrian cross, the vehicle in the adjacent lane does not necessarily see it, which can lead to serious accidents."

The mobility minister said her office would submit the revised version of the project, “which already takes into account the consultation committee, the traders and the municipalities concerned, to the minister-president.”

But regional MP Clémentine Barzin (MR) said the consultation committee “stressed the importance of maintaining two lanes for cars because it is a key junction”.

“We will obviously be vigilant, not only in terms of road safety, but also regarding the overall balance, including traffic flow and maintaining the smooth flow of traffic, particularly for motorists,” Barzin claimed.