Big plans to improve Barrière de Saint-Gilles junction

Even experienced cyclists approach the Barrière de Saint-Gilles junction with caution. Negotiating traffic from no fewer than seven adjoining streets is no joke.

But the situation is set to change. Brussels Mobility’s redevelopment plans - up for public consultation until 23 October - aim to “improve road safety, calm road traffic, improve the quality of public spaces, maximalise biodiversity and incorporate measures to manage rainwater”.

Key points of this project that also involves the communes of Saint-Gilles and Forest, public transport company the Stib, Brussels Environment and Vivaqua, include moving the tram tracks to the middle of the intersection, wider pavements and narrower roads so two cars cannot drive next to each other. This is one of the main causes of accidents at what is one of the most dangerous and chaotic roundabouts in the capital.

The Avenue du Parc – which runs from the Barrière to Place Rochefort bordering Forest park - will be completely redeveloped too, to improve road safety and reduce the number of cars.

Cyclists will be protected on separate cycle lanes on the riskiest sections of the road: between Place Rochefort and the Avenue du Clementine at one end and the nearly always clogged-up bottleneck approaching the Barrière at the other.

Much of this major Saint-Gilles artery will now become a "bicycle street" where the speed limit is limited to 30km/h and cars cannot overtake two-wheelers.

In addition, the avenue will be embellished with two lines of trees next to the pavements, “reinforcing the countryside nature of this axe and the link with Forest park, and at the same time enclosing new rain gardens to manage rain and stormwater”, Brussels Mobility said.

Public transport stops will be redesigned for better accessibility and worn-out tram tracks replaced by the Stib.

The Chaussée de Waterloo, Rue de l’Hôtel des Monnaies and the Avenue du Parc will be one-way coming up to the junction, so trams and buses can flow more freely.

Brussels Mobility is organising public information sessions to help the smooth running of the project. The first will take place on 11 October at the Institut des Filles de Marie school at Rue Théodore Verhaegen 8.

Finally, anyone wondering about the fate of the charming La Porteuse d’Eau (the water carrier) statue by Julien Dillens (1890), now surrounded by tram tracks and not easy to see up close, will be reassured that it will just be moved from the centre of the Barrière to its original resting place north of the roundabout.