Official opening new Henneau bridge over Brussels ring road: the end of a successful one-stop shop for BESIX and BESIX Infra
On behalf of De Werkvennootschap, BESIX and BESIX Infra replaced the severely outdated and unsafe bridge with a new one that is twice as wide and strongly focuses on the safety of cyclists, pedestrians and animals. The surrounding slip roads were also renewed. The work took three years and proceeded fully on schedule.
A safe and smooth crossing for all road users, including animals
BESIX and BESIX Infra’s renovation of the traffic intersection on Henneaulaan in Zaventem, Belgium, is part of the broader vision of De Werkvennootschap - i.e. the Flemish government organisation that supports complex mobility projects - to increase liveability in the area surrounding the Brussels ring road. The new bridge is twice as wide and pays attention to all modes of transport. For instance, it includes a generous cycle and pedestrian path completely shielded from motorised traffic and a separate lane for public transport. Smart traffic lights control the flow of cars.
On the other side of the cycle path is a green zone that also allows animals to cross the ring road more safely. The wall of stumps (a succession of tree trunks) provides animals with the necessary cover during their crossing. Once they reached the other side of the bridge, they can pass under the slip roads by using one of the many eco-tunnels.
Finally, the project also encourages better harmony between the ring road and the adjacent natural surroundings. Thanks to the bridge, the fragmented green areas are now connected and accessible to local residents and workers.
Optimisation and one-stop shop
To minimise traffic disruption, the project was divided into different stages. During the tender stage, BESIX and BESIX Infra proposed an alternative, optimised solution to the customer, reducing the length and number of interruptions even more than in the original schedule. By the end of the works, traffic was only interrupted on three occasions for a limited period of time.
The many stages and the importance of a good traffic flow required excellent coordination between the civil works and the roadworks. The one-stop shop with BESIX and BESIX Infra, providing integrated solutions for both aspects, proved its worth in this area. Thanks to the joint efforts and close cooperation of both parties, the project was completed fully on schedule.