An environmental organisation has launched an appeal in Belgium's highest court against the Flemish plans to widen the Ring Road motorway around Brussels (R0), with the NGO Dryade arguing that it goes against efforts to reduce traffic and improve air quality.
The Brussels Ring Road passes through all regions in Belgium. Flanders wants to widen the northern part on its territory from three to four lanes. Several environmental NGOs such as Natuurpunt, BRAL and Dryade had already objected to this, and the latter is now appealing against the regional spatial implementation plan (GRUP) – based on which permits are awarded – before the Council of State.
"In recent years, the Brussels Government has worked to make the region less congested," Dries Verhaeghe, Dryade's director, told The Brussels Times. This has resulted in cleaner air and a reduction in noise pollution, among others.
"Widening the Ring Road and building large entrance and exit complexes on the outskirts of Brussels have a countervailing objective. More traffic will be sent into the capital, which is the opposite of what the Brussels Region is working to do." When the plans were first revealed, the Brussels Government argued it was not consulted.
Worsening air quality
Verhaeghe argued that, aside from attracting additional traffic, the widening of the Ring Road will also cause higher nitrogen and greenhouse gas emissions. "Many cars in and around Brussels still run on a combustion engine – electric driving is not yet established," he said. "The more this traffic gets directed into Brussels, the worse the air quality here." The NGO also argued that the widening of the Ring Road mortgages Flemish and federal climate ambitions.
The expansion of the Ring Road is one of several projects passed following the Flemish Government's adoption of the highly contentious nitrogen decree. The Council of State at the time was highly critical of the decree – the original and adapted versions – but the Parliament voted it through nonetheless.
The appeal's aim is therefore to put nitrogen and climate back on the political agenda. "We call on the new government to rewrite the nitrogen decree in line with the comments of the Council of State. Only then can it provide legal certainty for new projects," Verhaeghe said.
Dryade is not completely opposed to the Ring Road redevelopment, which is made up of several aspects. "For instance, we endorse the objective of directing cut-through traffic from surrounding municipalities via the Ring Road."
However, it stressed that the widening "should not be at the expense of the surrounding natural areas" and regrets that the Flemish Government failed to examine additional road taxes in the planning process to avoid more traffic coming to Brussels.
The Brussels Times has contacted the Flemish Mobility Minister Lydia Peeters for a reaction to the appeal.
