There is already a bicycle tunnel nearby, yet the province of bicycle bridge of 7 million euros is building: « You can't explain that, do you? » (Inland)

With the bicycle bridge on the Rijksweg (N60), the province, the Flemish government and the city council of Oudenaarde want to connect two bicycle highways: the F46 between Kortrijk and Ghent, and the F45 between Ronse, Maarkedal and Oudenaarde. There is also 1.4 kilometers of new bicycle highway, between Onderbos and Watermolenstraat.

At 680 meters

The bridge itself will be 375 meters long, and costs 7.3 million euros. It should be built in the fall of next year. Only the decision raises a whole lot of questions for the time being.

This is also the case with provincial councilor Veronique Lenvain (VB). She says that her party is not against that bicycle bridge, but the location makes the eyebrows frown. “On barely 680 meters from there there is already a tunnel (on the United Nationslaan, ed.) under the N60, « she says. “Why exactly do you build that bridge there? I think that's strange. « 

Long -distance

Deputy Kurt Moens (N-VA) understands that consideration. « But twelve years ago it was a good decision to create that tunnel, » he says. “It takes a long time until subsidies are granted, and that tunnel was a local solution for a safer route. With the cycle highway we aim for long -distance bike traffic. « 

Read too. Local residents mostly positive about the construction of the new bicycle bridge over N60: “added value for Oudenaarde and the surrounding area”

According to Moens, it was not possible to use the bicycle tunnel as a connection between the various cycle highways, because parts of the route do not meet the current bicycle highways standards.

Fatal accident

In addition to Vlaams Belang, the Oudenaarde Fietsersbond is also not ingrained for the new bridge. « We never supported that project, » says Frans De Leernyder. “Of course we are not against new cycle paths, but there are other priorities. The bicycle tunnel under the Leupegemstraat (N8) for example. « 

“A fatal accident happened there fifteen years ago. Cyclists have to cross a busy street, and when there is a traffic jam, they have to navigate between all that traffic. The file of that tunnel is not getting along. « 

« Building a bridge near a tunnel, get that explained »

Marieke de Vos (more than green)

Ships Oudenaarde

That will change, because the city council of Oudenaarde planned the construction of the five -meter -wide tunnel. But also ships of Mobility Marieke de Vos (more than green) is not showing himself a big fan of the new bicycle bridge over the N60.

Read too. Number of cyclists on bicycle highways seems to be surprisingly enough, but the province sees good reason: « don't think we're sitting on a ceiling »

« It's a shame that the bicycle tunnel is not used as a connection between the bicycle highways, » she says. “But we can't change much on that bicycle bridge. That project had long been decided. A pity, because it's a very expensive project. « 

Work for two years

« We look at it from the positive side, » says the ships. “The bridge costs a lot of money, but she will be used by many people. I understand the commercial union's remark. Building a bridge near a tunnel, get that explained. The construction of the tunnel under Leupegemstraat is therefore more important than the construction of that bridge. ”

Those tunnel works would start in the spring of next year. They will take two years.