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First wildlife bridge over Brussels Ring opens this summer
The animals of the Sonian Forest will be able to safely cross the Brussels Ring Road from August, when the first phase of work is scheduled to be finished on a new wildlife crossing in Groenendaal, just outside of Brussels. Ben Weyts, the Flemish minister responsible for mobility and animal welfare, visited the site of the Ring's first wildlife bridge, or ecoduct, at the weekend. The entire project costs about €6 million, writes Het Laatste Nieuws.
"The ecoduct will be 60m wide and 55m long," said Weyts. "It will improve safety for both humans and animals. Every year, thousands of animals die on the Ring Road. Research has shown that many animals prefer this location in Groenendaal to cross the Ring, so this is not only about animal welfare but also traffic safety. With this impressive project, we reunite nearly 5,000 hectares of nature."
The total cost of the project, about €6 million, is paid for by the Flemish government, European Union, municipalities of Hoeilaart and Overijse, the Nature and Forest Agency, and the Road and Traffic Agency.
In addition to many trees and plants, the ecoduct will also include a chain of small pools for amphibians.
Comments
What a complete waste of money and time this has been. 60m in all the KM of forest is a joke. If it was 5km long maybe it would make a difference but the amount of disturbance in the forest whilst they built this is massive and it doesn't stop animals a km away traveling into the road. They should have spent the 6 million on public transport to the areas outside of Brussels to reduce the volume of traffic on that road
I totally agree with CC_R. I have traveled on this section of the ring road for over 30 years and have yet to see the 'thousands' of animals that they say have been killed. A few times I have seen a dead fox, but certainly not larger animals.
Although I'm not an expert on animal behaviour, how will they know to use this crossing? Will the authorities provide them with Tom Tom or Garmin navigation devices?
I'm all for protecting wildlife, however this seems a ludicrous project when there many other projects that need financing.
Indeed Derrick What's worse is it say a my local taxes have helped to fund this white elephant and finally it doesn't pass over the road that runs towards Boitsdford where no one drives at the set speed limit and the trees are much closer to the road. I'm a real wildlife lover but this money could have been much better spent to reduce pollution and protect wildlife. Overijse has some of the worse public transport in that area no even a tram or train unless you drive into another commune and they are funding this but can't find money to improve the junction of the RO and 411 where all traffic in one direction must pass 5km in the other before making U turn because they couldn't damage the forest to stop the previous dangerous junction what an absolute joke this would be except it's real!