During the night from Saturday to Sunday, the new Hector Hennaud Avenue bridge on the Brussels Ring Road in Zaventem was successfully put in place. The colossus, which at 106 by 27 meters approaches the area of half a football pitch, weighs just under 2 000 tons. The smoothly run operation allowed the Ring Road to reopen at 11 a.m. on Sunday, three hours earlier than planned.

The placement of the bridge by De Werkvennootschap was done in spectacular fashion. The colossus, half a football field in size thus, was driven from the construction site next to the Ring Road, where it was assembled under the existing bridge.

Afterward, the structure was turned a quarter turn so that it was facing the right direction. Then the bridge of just under 2 000 tons was jacked up.

Twice as wide

The Hector Henneau Avenue bridge over the Brussels Ring Road, which dates from the 1970s, was in urgent need of replacement. The road was also not safe enough for cyclists and pedestrians. The new bridge will have a separate cycle path, separate bus lanes, and a lane reserved for pedestrians.

A striking feature is the green eco passage that will take shape on the bridge: this will also allow animals to cross the Ring Road safely. In total, the bridge will be 44 meters wide, more than doubling the 16,5-meter width of the old bridge.

€38 million price ticket

The work has been done in several phases since April 2021. The old bridge, for example, was already demolished last year and replaced by the first half of the new bridge. With the installation of the second bridge section, the last major hurdle has been taken.

By summer 2024, the entire structure should be ready for use. The whole project will cost around 38 million euros.