Brussels minister halts Reyers Viaduct renovation

The Reyers Viaduct, which runs above the ring road in the Brussels district of Schaerbeek, could be demolished rather than repaired, according to Brussels’ new mobility minister, Pascal Smet. The viaduct (pictured) was closed earlier this summer to allow urgent repair work, but Smet halted the work order earlier this week.

Smet ordered the workers to down tools after he was told that “unforeseen complications” had emerged. “The renovation will take longer, and the costs will go up,” Smet said. “We need to look carefully at this project and ask whether it might be better to demolish the viaduct.” 

The renovation of the Reyers Viaduct was initially scheduled to be completed by the end of the summer, but the final date has now been moved back to November. At the same time, the costs have doubled from €2 to €4 million. “Given the deplorable state of the structure, we have to ask whether the current renovation work will be enough to keep it in working order over the long term,” said Smet. “Local residents will definitely benefit if the viaduct is demolished and replaced by a city boulevard.”

The urban action group Arau urged the city earlier this year to tear down the viaduct, which was constructed 40 years ago. “It is a dinosaur that no longer serves any purpose,” the organisation said.

Arau has dusted off a proposal it first put forward in 1995 to replace the viaduct with an oval roundabout. This would slow down traffic and reduce congestion at the Meiserkruispunt. This move would demonstrate that Brussels is committed to reducing car traffic in the city, according to the organisation.

The mayor of Schaerbeek, Bernard Clerfayt, has also argued in favour of demolishing the viaduct, which crosses his municipality. Smet has now ordered his department to produce a report on the future of the viaduct. It is due by 25 August.