€2 million for road improvements in run-up to Tour de France

The Brussels-Capital Region has earmarked €2 million for improvements to roads in the run-up to the Tour de France. The Grand Départ takes place in the European capital this year for the first time since 1958.

Works need to start very soon as the big event is on 6 July. Two types of works need to be carried out before then, Camille Thiry of Brussels Mobility told RTBF. “First, some roads that aren’t in great shape need to be repaved,” he said. “Next to that, potholes need to be filled in.”

On Saturday 6 July, a Brussels-Charleroi-Brussels route will start in Molenbeek. The following day, a time trial in Brussels will travel through Brussels-City, Etterbeek, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Auderghem, Watermael-Boitsfort, Ixelles, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert and Schaerbeek.

Repaving, which is taking up a lion’s share of the budget, is planned for parts of Avenue de Tervueren and Boulevard du Souverain in Auderghem, Boulevard Lambermont in Schaerbeek and Boulevard Louis Mettewie in Molenbeek.

Thiry confirmed that the works shouldn’t hinder traffic in the capital much as they would be carried out in the evenings and weekends.

The Tour de France’s Grand Départ has taken place in Belgium four times, the last in 2012 in Liège.

Photo: Legendary Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx will make several appearances during the Grand Départ
©Thierry Roge/BELGA