Beliris has submitted adapted plans for the second phase of the future north-south Brussels Metro Line 3, which it says better take into account the views of local residents and authorities.
From day one, the Metro Line 3 project has been a controversial and complicated one. The new route will cross the city from north (Bordet station) to south (Albert metro station in Saint-Gilles), allowing passengers to travel from Evere, through the city centre, to Forest in just 20 minutes.
The construction of the line is divided into two phases. The first phase encompassed the conversion of the pre-metro into a metro, between Albert and Gare du Nord, which was piloted by STIB, the Brussels transport network.
However, the pain point was centred around Palais du Midi near Brussels-Midi station. Works were held up for several months due to disputes about opening up the floor of the historic building and dismantling the interior to build the necessary tunnel.
The second phase of the project focuses on extending the metro by creating a 5 km tunnel between Brussels North station and Bordet, which is managed by Beliris, the cooperation body between the Federal Government and the Brussels-Capital Region for construction.
It includes the construction of seven new metro stations (Liedts, Colignon, Verboekhoven, Riga, Tilleul, Paix and Bordet serving the municipalities of Schaerbeek and Evere), a 4.5 km tunnel, and a depot at the STIB site in Haren.
The two phases of the project. The green stars indicate a new station will be built. Credit: Beliris
The body confirmed on Tuesday that it has submitted an adapted plan for the second phase of the project to urban.brussels, the regional department that issues planning permission. "These plans take even better account of the opinions of relevant bodies and local residents," it noted. The new plan is the reworked version of the permit application submitted in 2022.
Information sessions for residents and shopkeepers will be organised on 28 and 29 November and 5 December, and a public enquiry will be held in January 2024 by the three municipalities to give locals the opportunity to voice their opinions on the permit application.
What changes have been made?
In 2022, a permit application was submitted to urban.brussels, but after the public enquiry in March 2022, it asked Beliris to adjust the plans based on the opinions of the authorities and residents.
Beliris argued that, even with these changes, the project for the northern extension of Metro 3 "remains, on the whole, identical." The cooperation body added that the modifications requested by urban.brussels do not change the concept or the project in depth (for instance, the location and concept of each of the seven stations, tunnel and depot in Haren will be retained). Instead, it says that they focus on certain architectural aspects or the layout of the areas around the stations.
For all stations, the plans ensure that the raised smoke exhaust vents are better integrated and that there are public toilets accessible to people with reduced mobility.
An illustration image of the Liedts station. Credit: Beliris
Changes have also been made outside the stations: the shape of the entrance of Liedts station has been adapted to provide more space for pedestrians and possible events. There will also be easier and direct access to trams 25, 62 and 93 via the exit on the square.
The pedestrian bridge at Verboekhoven has been removed, while the façade and ground floor of Brussels-Midi have been modified. Furthermore, more bicycle facilities have been integrated around the new metro entrances, more trees and shrubs will be planted around the stations, and these spaces will be made safer for pedestrians.
