Traffic disruption Brussels Leonard crossing beyond Spring 2025

Those who thought to see the light and the end of the tunnel in connection with the works on the Leonard crossing can abandon all hope for a short pain. The complete “facelift” of the Brussels ring tunnel (R0) has finally been postponed until next spring.

In January, the Works Association (De Werkvennootschap) will start large-scale works in Jezus-Eik, near the Leonard Tunnel. In spring 2025, the most extensive works on the Leonard Tunnel of the E411 will also begin.

Problem with ceiling beams

There are two tunnels under the Leonard intersection: a 360-meter-long one for the Brussels ring road (R0) and an 80-meter-long one for the E411. The ring road tunnel has been receiving an integral renovation since March 2023.

But because the ceiling beams are in worse condition than expected, the deadline initially scheduled for November for that renovation has been pushed back to April/May.

Starting next spring, the tunnel shafts of the E411 will also be addressed. While work is being done on the shaft for traffic heading towards Brussels, traffic in both directions will pass through the other shaft, where usually only traffic heading towards Namur travels.

Completed by the end of 2025

The situation will be reversed when Roads and Traffic works in the tube for traffic towards Namur. In both situations, traffic on the E411 towards Brussels will have one lane, while traffic towards Namur will have two lanes. Especially for the morning rush hour, the Agency expects traffic disruption until the end of 2025. The disruption on the Brussels ring road will last until April or May next year.

After that, renovation work on the ring road will continue at night, but road users can drive across the entire width of the ring road during the day. The connections for traffic from Auderghem to Waterloo and vice versa will also reopen then. According to the current schedule, the works on the ring road and the E411 will be completed by the end of 2025.

Reconstruction of Jezus-Eik

Finally, large-scale works will start in January in Jezus-Eik. The works association will reconstruct the village center and demolish the current bridge over the E411. In its place will be two new ones, one for cars and one for pedestrians. Part of the bus stops will also be relocated there.

Nevertheless, the works’ association believes that the impact of these works on traffic will be limited, with more inconvenience at night and on weekends. The NMBS/SNCB has, in any case, provided additional carriages between Brussels and Namur, while the TEC has also increased its bus offer. De Lijn is still considering how or where its offer will be adjusted.