N58

April 2010

A obligatory point for anyone traveling to Mouscron from Hainaut, the Boulevard des Alliés-Boulevard Industriel intersection has always been a black spot for local mobility. But it has just been closed permanently to be replaced by a tunnel surmounted by a roundabout (one more...).
I estimate its construction around 1980. It was there before the existing tunnel (a few hundred meters away), opened in 1985.
The only important crossing on this express road connecting Dottignies to Rekkem, it will be the scene of good numbers of accidents, sometimes fatal given the speeds practiced here.
On the one hand, it allows to reach the center Mouscron coming from the highway Tournai-Bruges and on the other hand, it connects the station to the industrial zones. There is therefore a mixture of transit, local traffic, even agricultural. It goes without saying that at rush hour, we drive there slowly.

For a long time, this junction was equipped with a simple signage : that is to say that the vehicles going straight had to cross at the same time those which turned to the left. Easy to imagine the danger that this signage represented for this corner located just after a big curve.
Before 1995, this crossing was also the only fast link between Flanders and Wallonia in this part of Belgium. Indeed, the highway E403-A17 Tournai-Bruges had remained unfinished for more than 20 years for low-level language quarrels^Note1 .
As logic would have it, it will only be equipped with three-way signage^Note2 once the highway is open. It is made safer once the traffic density has decreased. Smart, isn't it ?

Since April 16, 2010, this junction is closed. It is replaced the time of the works (estimated at 2 years) by a roundabout using the old access ramps. These ramps have existed for more than 15 years, in anticipation of this tunnel. Some of them were never put into service, others were useless and finally, some were really used.

These images have of course been made possible by the intersection closure. Without that, it would have been assured death.
Seeing this peaceful and desert corner is exceptional. Let's enjoy !

Pictures

Click on the picture to start the slideshow

Notes

The Flemish section was completed long ago but the Walloon region did not want to complete it as long as a correct connection between Comines (Francophone enclave in Flanders) and the A19 highway was not realized.
At the same time, the Walloon region has long refused to open a Dutch-language school in Comines.
Vehicles turning left are now isolated from those going straight. This lengthens the waiting time at the intersection but it makes it more secure.

Comments

Pas encore de commentaire • No comment yet
Soyez le premier & devenez quelqu’un de bien • Be the first & become a good person