Further delay for renovation of Loi and Belliard road tunnels

The long-awaited renovation of the Rue de la Loi and Rue Belliard tunnels has been put back again, Brussels Mobility has confirmed, with firm plans impossible without a Brussels government.

A timetable to renovate the tunnels has still not been set, even though works were supposed to start in 2021. The renovation is essential, Brussels Mobility insists, as the electronics in both tunnels need replacing.

“When they are completely worn out, closures of these tunnels will occur more often and it will become more difficult to keep traffic running smoothly,” the organisation said.

In April 2024, the Brussels government put a figure of €161 million on the renovation money needed. But deciding on how much of this renovation will be implemented and when is a decision to be taken by the still not-yet formed Brussels government.

The modernisation project is part of the region’s multi-annual plan to invest in road tunnels. This followed several incidents about 10 years ago due to overdue maintenance. Major works were supposed to start in 2024, but postponed at the end of 2023, due to "procedural reasons", the Brussels government said.

The Loi tunnel - which runs under Cinquantenaire park between Merode and Schuman - and the Belliard tunnel form a single technical and structural whole, which is why they are being tackled together. The renovation includes the construction of additional emergency exits and renewal of the ventilation and lighting system. To limit inconvenience, the renovation work would mainly take place at night.

In the midst of uncertainty over when work will begin, the cabinet of outgoing Brussels mobility minister Elke Van den Brandt told La Dernière Heure that the postponement does not jeopardise the safety of road traffic. She said that an action plan has been drawn up with regular tunnel inspections.