A 27-kilometer stretch of bicycle highway between Herentals and Balen is ready for use in the province of Antwerp. The stretch forms part of bicycle highway F105 Herentals-Leopoldsburg to Limburg. The province of Antwerp invested more than 30 million euros in it.

The section between Herentals and Balen includes two new bicycle tunnels and nine new bridges. Nine million euros went to the construction of these tunnels and bridges alone. Construction started in 2018 and is now complete.

Cyclists can already use it but must take into account minor finishing work between Mol and Schoor Dorp this summer. The grand opening is scheduled for September.

Alternative to the car

“The choice for realizing a cycle highway between Herentals and Balen is well-considered,” states Antwerp’s deputy for mobility, Luk Lemmens (N-VA). “The bicycle highway connects Herentals, Olen, Geel, Mol, and Balen. No fewer than 400 companies, 160 schools, and several sports clubs are located along this Kempen cycle street. It makes cycling a worthy alternative to the car.”

Lighting everywhere

The F105 bicycle highway, 36 km long, is 3 meters wide on average, and all new sections were realized in red-brown asphalt. It is also equipped with lighting everywhere.

It mainly involves a stretch along line infrastructure such as railways, but the province says that sometimes there was no choice but to go over existing road infrastructure for a stretch. Where possible, these are then converted into bicycle streets.

Meanwhile, cyclists are making full use of the cycle route. In April 2023, the provincial Cycling Barometer counted 21 200 cyclists on the Geel territory during weekdays and 7 046 cyclists on weekends.

Across provincial borders

This project proves that the cycle highways do not stop at provincial borders. As in the province of Antwerp, the other four Flemish provinces are also investing in cycling highways; in time, the cycle highways will smoothly connect all Flemish cities. Suitable for a network of 2 700 km. Wallonia, too, is steadily expanding cycle highways.