Landegem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Landegem builds new 4m-wide cycle bridge over Schipdonk Canal; Mayor Rutger De Reu and Provincial Executive Kurt Mons lead project, linking F6 route, improving safety, access, and sustainability by 2026.
As VRT News reported, in Landegem, near Deinze, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, work has started on a new cycle bridge over the Schipdonk Canal. They mentioned that currently, cyclists must use a narrow, steep path next to the railway bridge with a metal grating.
“For many residents, the crossing was too dangerous,”
says Mayor Rutger De Reu (CD8V).
“With this new bicycle bridge, we offer a safe, comfortable alternative,”
says Provincial Executive Kurt Mons (N-VA).
“The cycle path on the bridge will be 4 meters wide and will connect directly to the F6 infrastructure. This will give the cycle highway a smooth, continuous route over the canal.”
What changes will Landegem’s new cycle bridge bring by 2026?
The path will use permeable asphalt, which allows rainwater to soak into the soil. Officials mentioned that this new surface will make cycling safer and more comfortable for regular cyclists, cargo bike users, and less mobile riders.
“We’re also taking sustainability into account in the bridge’s design, including the use of low-maintenance materials,”
Mons explains.
“In this way, we’re looking towards future-oriented mobility that makes a difference for both people and the environment.”
“We’d love to name the bridge after former Deinze world champion Rudy Dhaenens,”
says De Reu.
“But it’s not yet entirely certain that the bridge will actually get that name.”
The project is part of a larger plan to improve cycling routes in the area. The bridge and cycle path are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Plans to improve cycling along the Schipdonk Canal near Landegem have been discussed since 2022. The current narrow path next to the railway bridge is unsafe, especially for cargo bikes and less mobile cyclists. In early 2024, Deinze city approved a new bridge with wider lanes and gentle ramps.
Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
