Boulevard Clovis to get whole new look

Part of Brussels' EU district is going to get a whole new look. An urban renewal project will soon break ground that will turn Boulevard Clovis into a much nicer stretch of road for pedestrians and cyclists.

The largely residential street that runs from Ambiorix Square to Chaussée de Louvain already has an enviable median strip of grass, trees and flowering bushes. This will be widened with a pedestrian pavement placed in the middle of it.

The cobblestone street will also be fitted with wide cycle paths on both sides. The street is part of an RER cycle express network.

The street has a single lane on both sides for traffic now, which will remain but become narrower. This not only frees up space for the cycle paths but should work to slow down traffic. New paving stones will be laid in place of the cobblestones that currently make up the street.

Commuter traffic on the boulevard, in any case, could be a thing of the past as the city hopes to cut the street in two so that it will no longer be through. Drivers would be stopped at the cross street Rue de Gravelines. But that idea must be approved by Stib. Residents, meanwhile, will still be able to park in the street, but there will be fewer spots.

Brussels-City has planned the project since the street must be torn up anyway because of renovations to a rail tunnel taking place underneath it.

Photo courtesy Brussels-City