Sint-Gillis-Waas (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Sint-Gillis-Waas and East Flanders upgrade F411 cycle highway. Alderman Lauren Van Guyse and Mayor Koen Daniels add signs, lighting, and plan the southern section widening to 4 meters.
As VRT News reported, the F411 cycle highway, connecting Sint-Niklaas with the Netherlands and passing through Sint-Gillis-Waas, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, will get new warning signs and accent lighting to improve safety for cyclists and drivers. Until last year, cyclists had priority only at some intersections, but now they have right-of-way at all intersections in Sint-Gillis-Waas.
“We’ve already received many requests to revoke the right-of-way for cyclists, but that’s not an option,
says Alderman for Mobility Lauren Van Guyse (N-VA).
“Now we want to use additional signage to ensure that traffic conditions remain safe for all drivers, both cyclists and cars.”
“Just because the cyclist has the right of way doesn’t mean he or she shouldn’t pay attention.”
Koen Daniels, mayor (N-VA
How is Sint-Gillis-Waas making the F411 cycle highway safer with signs and lighting?
The municipality will install accent lighting and warning signs at intersections where right-of-way rules have changed. Additional signs will be placed along the cycle path and on the road to alert drivers and cyclists.
“The warning signs will light up when traffic approaches, so everyone knows ‘attention intersection.’ Just because cyclists have the right of way doesn’t mean they shouldn’t pay attention,”
says Mayor Koen Daniels (N-VA).
The municipality of Sint-Gillis-Waas, together with the province of East Flanders, has completed redevelopment work on the F411 cycle highway.
“We have not yet adapted the intersection with Reinakkerweg, which is managed by the Roads and Traffic Agency, and Reepstraat, because the current situation doesn’t allow it,”
says Mayor Koen Daniels (N-VA).
Sint-Gillis-Waas is now working with the province and the city of Sint-Niklaas to plan upgrades to the southern section of the F411. Plans include widening the cycle path from Shondstraat to Driekoningen in Sint-Niklaas to 4 meters and adding extra lighting.
In 2023 and 2024, work was completed on some intersections, including Geinsteindestraat, Shondstraat, Klokputweg, Aststraat, Heerweg, and Tybaarstraat. The work involved the addition of warning signs, as well as accent lighting.
Other Belgian cities have carried out similar cycle highway safety projects. In Leuven, the R8 cycle highway saw upgrades in 2022 and 2023, including new warning signs, accent lighting, and improved intersections to protect cyclists and alert drivers. Ghent also worked on the F4 and F5 cycle highways between 2021 and 2023, redesigning crossings, adding signs, and installing extra lighting.
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