Less traffic on Flemish highways, but more traffic jams

Fewer cars and trucks drove on Flemish highways last year than in 2019, the year before Covid-19. Nevertheless, according to the Flemish Traffic Center’s annual overviews, traffic congestion was at its highest level in 2023.

On an average working day in 2023, almost 3% fewer vehicle kilometers traveled on Flemish highways than in 2019, a 2% increase compared to 2022. Freight traffic, which experienced a substantial rise during the coronavirus period, decreased last year and was, therefore, again at a lower level than in 2019.

Historically high level

However, less traffic does not automatically mean less congestion: congestion was historically high in 2023. The reason? The compact Flemish highway network (with 67.7 km per 1,000 km², Flanders has the largest number of kilometers of highway per land area in the EU), the impact of accidents (over 5,700 accidents resulting in traffic congestion in 2023), weather conditions, road works, and an increase in the vehicle fleet.

More congestion on the highways around Antwerp

The first five months of 2024 and the sopping wet spring already shattered the 2023 traffic jam records. May 2024 was the heaviest congestion month since traffic measurements began.

The increase in congestion was mainly during the evening rush hour, which became heavier each weekday. The morning rush hour became heavier only on Tuesdays and Thursdays when there was less teleworking. On weekdays, Flanders has an average morning traffic jam of 151 km and an average evening traffic jam of 132 km.

On a regional level, it is notable that congestion has increased significantly over the past decade, especially on the highways around Antwerp. Since 2012, morning rush hours have increased by 56% and evening rush hours by 133%.

The works around the Oosterweel link more than likely have something to do with this, although they only began in 2018. For the Brussels region, only the evening rush hours increased.