€24 million to fix Brussels' road bridges and viaducts

The Brussels government has set aside €24 million between now and 2021 to fix the region's road bridges and viaducts, after a report found half of them needed repairs and three required urgent attention.

Inspections were carried out on all of Brussels' 92 bridges following the discovery of cracks in the Hermann-Debroux viaduct, which was closed for a week in October.

The viaduct, on the E411 entry into Brussels, which carries 50,000 vehicles a day, is one of three structures that need urgent repair works, according to report.

The other bridges needing immediate attention are the tram section of the Van Praet bridge over the canal at Docks Bruxsel shopping centre, and the Pont de la Petite Île in Anderlecht, which has been closed since 2014 and was due to be rebuilt anyway next year.

About two thirds of the bridges inspected in the report are the responsibility of Brussels Mobility, with the remaining third owned by rail operator Infrabel.

Meanwhile, roadworks begin this week on four of the six Reyers road tunnels in Schaerbeek. The main Reyers-Schuman tunnel is unaffected, while the tunnels leading to Meiser and Montgomery face a year of improvement works.

The Reyers-Meiser tunnel is being demolished and rebuilt from now until Easter. The other three affected tunnels are having repairs made to their roofs.

Drivers coming into Brussels on the E40 from Liège are being encouraged to follow the recommended diversions, via the Brussels ring and other main routes into the city.