Supertrucks banned from Brussels Ring

A new generation of supertrucks will be appearing on roads in Flanders from 1 July as part of a pilot project. But they will not be permitted in the Kennedy Tunnel under the Scheldt in Antwerp nor on parts of the Brussels Ring Road.

The supertrucks can measure up to 25.25 metres in length, compared to a normal truck length of 18.75m, and weigh up to 60 tonnes, compared to the usual 44 tonnes. They are restricted to major roads outside of built-up areas and 30 zones and may ride no more than 10 kilometres before reaching their main route on the motorway.

On the Brussels Ring, sections banned to the vehicles include the Vilvoorde viaduct and the section between Jette and Zellik, according to the project specifications published yesterday. Other sections of the ring are closed to the supertrucks, including between exits 5 and 6, Machelen-Vilvoorde and between 13-18, Dilbeek-Ruisbroeck. In practice, it will be impractical for the trucks to try to use the ring at all.

“We’d have preferred being able to run on the whole territory,” commented Lode Verkinderen of the industry association Transport & Logistiek Vlaanderen, “but this gives us enough possibilities.” A number of haulage companies are ready to take part in the project, he said.