On Wednesday 15 September, the earth works for the construction of a new bicycle bridge over the Haachtsesteenweg (N21) in Steenokkerzeel have commenced.
Today the options to commute to the cargo airport are limited. Whichever route you take, you will automatically end up driving along dense car traffic. Once in Melsbroek, bike commuters must make a large detour to be able to cross the Haachtsesteenweg.
The bicycle bridge is part of the F214 bicycle highway and will provide a better connection between the centre of Vilvoorde and Brucargo, the cargo area of Brussels Airport. The new bridge is to boost (e-)bike commuting between Vilvoorde – where many airport employees live – and Brucargo.
The F214 bicycle highway is already there, and with the new bicycle bridge over the Haachtstesteenweg you will be able to cycle directly to Brucargo from spring 2022
Shared investment
The bridge is a shared investment of the Flemish government and Brussels Airport, with financial support from Europe. Half of the 1.8-million investment comes out of the budget of Flemish Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters; the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) contributes 700,000 euros. Brussels Airport Company is also investing around 200,000 euros in the bicycle bridge and is making the necessary land available for construction of the embankments.
40 metres
The bicycle bridge itself, a 40-meter long steel construction, is currently being put together in a workshop. A lot still has to be done on the site before the bridge can be lifted over the Haachtsesteenweg with large cranes. On Wednesday 15 September, the contractor started with the earth works, after which he will supply soil to raise the slope next to the road. The cycle paths that connect to the new bridge will then be constructed.
If everything works out as planned, the bridge will be ready for use by spring 2022 and we'll have taken another step towards green commuting to and from Brussels Airport.