The narrowed situation on the bicycle highway quickly becomes clear on site. — © Province of Antwerp
If preparations go according to schedule, work can be done on a wider bicycle highway in the center of Boechout in 2025. The Province of Antwerp will collaborate with the municipality for this.
The part that needs to be addressed is located on the F11 bicycle highway between Antwerp and Lier. Most of this route consists of a separate cycle path. It allows cyclists to reach Antwerp within half an hour from Lier.
There are several points on the bicycle highway that need improvement, such as the narrowest part between Alexander Franckstraat and Pastoorsleike in Boechout. “The widening of the F11 cycle highway is an important step in our pursuit of safe and sustainable cycling infrastructure. Together with the municipality, we are improving this bicycle highway to encourage more people to choose a bicycle for their commute. With Sint-Gabriël primary and secondary school in Boechout, many students use this stretch of bicycle highway,” says Luk Lemmens (N-VA), deputy for Mobility.
To 4.5 meters
The zone between Pastoorsleike and Alexander Franckstraat, about seven hundred meters, is less than 2.5 meters wide at its narrowest point. The lane will be expanded to a lane width of 4.5 meters with forgiving lanes, or lanes level with the roadway, on both sides. Space is limited on the castle wall of the Kastanjehof, resulting in a width of four meters in places.
Mobility councilor Rudi Goyvaerts (Pro Boechout-Vremde) outlines the situation: “In Boechout there was already a cycle path along the railway, long before the cycle highway was completely finished and became part of it. The oldest section, between the Spoorweglei and the Alexander Franckstraat, became too narrow to cycle comfortably due to the great success of the F11. We are happy that it is being expanded. It is important that the many cyclists who use the bicycle highway every day can do so in a safe manner.”
The environmental permit has been applied for. The intention is to start the works in early 2025 and complete them by the summer of next year.
Tags: Bicycle road Pastoorsleike Alexander Franckstraat meters wider Boechout
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