A permit has been issued for the reconstruction of the iconic Avenue de Stalingrad in Brussels, but delays in the works on the new Metro Line 3 mean it will likely remain a construction site for the foreseeable future.
Avenue de Stalingrad, which runs from Brussels-Midi station to the western border of the city centre, was once a street of great grandeur, and of historical importance, as Palais du Midi is located here.
Since then, the avenue lost its character and has become yet another car-heavy road. More recently, a large part of that avenue has been turned into a huge building site due to the new Metro Line 3 between Saint-Gilles and Schaerbeek.
"Due to the works on Metro 3, a large section of Avenue de Stalingrad was demolished. A difficult time for residents and traders," said Ans Persoons, state secretary for town planning.
However, this momentum was used to rethink this public space between Place Rouppe and the small Brussels ring road near the station. Submitted by Persoons who at the time was the Councillor for Urban Planning in the City of Brussels, a permit for these works has now been delivered to the City of Brussels.
Palais du Midi is at the centre of the redevelopment plans. Credit: Cabinet Ans Persoons
"We are preparing the future with this permit. After the reconstruction, Avenue de Stalingrad will look different: much greener, with wide footpaths, separated cycle paths and a large forecourt in front of the Palais du Midi," which will get a new forecourt.
In this space, the promised "eye-catcher" of the project, grass and plants will be given a more prominent place, there will be play areas with tree trunks surrounded by benches and water features will be created by gentle slopes, reminiscent of the river Zenne which long ago flowed here.
One-way traffic
The redevelopment, as many that recently received permits in the region such as the Schuman roundabout and Place Royal, also aims to make the car-heavy street safer and more comfortable for vulnerable road users.
Car traffic will move to the middle of the avenue on a single-lane section and will be cut at the level of Palais du Midi, meaning it will no longer be possible to drive by car from Place Rouppe to Midi Station.
Credit: Cabinet Ans Persoons
This will free up more space for wide pavements for pedestrians with one area "to stroll quietly" and a kind of fast lane for people who are in a rush. These wide pavements can also be used by traders and catering establishments to create terraces. There will also be separated cycle paths on both sides of the road.
Along the entire road, four rows of trees – elms, maples, pines and sycamores – will provide greening and cooling on the avenue, planted in large permeable zones, so rainwater can be collected.
Unclear timeline
While the plans and a vision for the reconstruction have now been shared, it remains unclear when this idea will become reality, Persoons' spokesperson Nils Quintelier told The Brussels Times.
"For now, we have to wait until the works on the tunnel of Metro 3 are completed, that is proceeding with difficulty," he said. "So we cannot peg a fixed time for the start of the works, but we hope that this can take place as soon as possible."
The construction of a 120-metre tunnel under the Palais du Midi as part of the 900-metre-long underground structure to connect the future Toots Tielemans Metro station, under Avenue de Stalingrad, with the existing pre-metro infrastructure for the Metro Line 3, had been at a standstill for several months due to technical problems.
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In September, the Brussels Parliament gave the go-ahead for the proposed but controversial fast-track procedure to issue permits for the partial dismantling of the iconic building, putting an end to the years-long blocking of the construction. However, this means the project is heavily delayed and locals will be stuck living in a construction site for another while.
"This ambition is forward-looking during a difficult period linked to the recent difficulties encountered during the construction of the tunnel," said Philippe Close, Mayor of the City of Brussels.
"The implementation of the redevelopment of Stalingrad will have to be done as soon as possible so that we can offer the neighbourhood a pleasant space for everyone."
