The planning permit has been issued for the complete redevelopment of Place Meiser. The Schaerbeek junction, referred to as the "Place misère" or "Misery Square" for its dangerous traffic situation, will be safer for all road users once the works are completed.
Due to the constant stream of traffic and inefficient layout of the roundabout, Place Général Meiser in the north-east of Brussels, in the municipality of Schaerbeek, has been nominated as one of the city's most dangerous intersections. After years of locals complaining about the situation here, the region confirmed in June 2023 that the square would be redesigned. Almost two years later, Brussels Mobility's project had been issued a permit.
"Place Meiser will soon be transformed into a safer traffic junction for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists," Ans Persoons (Vooruit), Secretary of State for Urban Planning, said. "It is a crossroads that people are afraid to cross, so it needs to be improved and made safer."
Place Meiser in Schaerbeek. Credit: Belga/ Thierry Roge
The large tarmacked and grey roundabout, which is currently considered to be unclear for all road users, will be transformed into a more pleasant and well-organised crossroads. Two separate junctions will be created: one to manage the Reyers/Wahis boulevards axis; and another to manage the flow of traffic on Rue Cambier, Avenue Rogier, Chaussée de Louvain and Avenue Plasky.
Meanwhile, pedestrians and cyclists will have wider, separate areas to improve their safety.
The project will also remove the tram tracks that diagonally intersect the roundabout. They will now run alongside the junction. "This will simplify access to the public transport stops," Persoons said. This will also provide better access to the nearby Meiser railway station.
Finally, the crossroads – currently lacking almost any greenery – will be surrounded by a tree-lined public space, making the area "a more pleasant and shady meeting place, with the planting of around a hundred trees in the ground and the creation of flowerbeds and flower beds". Space for this will be freed up by removing the roundabout.
Credit: Brussels Mobility
However, it is unclear when the traffic will actually improve as the timeframe for the redevelopment will be decided by the next Brussels government. Negotiations for this have made almost no progress after more than nine months.
Additionally, Place Meiser is a major traffic intersection at the junction of Boulevard Reyers and Chaussée de Louvain, meaning once works begin, motorists can expect significant disruption.
