The E40 highway will be completely closed in both directions this weekend, from Saturday at 8:00 PM until Sunday early afternoon. Motorists traveling between Brussels and Liege will be rerouted via local roads, where significant congestion is also expected. The Flemish Traffic Centre advises avoiding the E40 and its immediate vicinity as much as possible.
Since January 2026, Wegen en Verkeer (Roads and Traffic agency) has been working at a construction site along the E40 on the new arch bridge. On October 10th, the structure will be ready to be lifted by jacks. Subsequently, the bridge, weighing four thousand tons, will be transported to its final location using ‘Self Propelled Modular Trailers’ (SPMT’s).
The distance between the construction site and the bridge's final location is approximately two hundred meters. Despite the relatively short distance, lifting and moving the thirty-meter-high steel bridge, due to its weight and limited maneuvering space, will take up most of the night. According to engineers from Wegen en Verkeer, the bridge will be in place by around two o'clock on Sunday morning. Afterward, the agency will repair the central reservation and install lighting poles. The highway is scheduled to reopen to traffic shortly after noon on Sunday.
As the installation of the new arch bridge is an exceptional operation, Wegen en Verkeer is organizing a public viewing event for the local community. This initiative aims to give residents the opportunity to witness the work from a safe distance and prevent people from entering the construction site on their own initiative. Similar to the demolition of the old bridge, safety is paramount; the work zone itself will remain strictly closed, with only designated safe areas accessible to visitors. Wegen en Verkeer considers it important to maintain ties with the community and involve residents in this significant milestone for their area.
Following the bridge's placement, Wegen en Verkeer will renovate the Tervuursesteenweg before and after the bridge and establish the Hoppinpunt at the carpool parking lot. According to the current schedule, the works are expected to be fully completed by the end of 2026.
