Wetteren – The Roads and Traffic Agency and the municipality of Wetteren have finalized plans to rebuild a 2-kilometer stretch of the N407 and upgrade the Slekkebeek and Bourgondisch Kruis intersections, with construction anticipated to commence following the summer of 2026, reports 24brussels.
According to VRT News, the Roads and Traffic Agency (AW) has completed the designs for the complete reconstruction of Kalkensteenweg and Kapellendries (N407) from the Laarne-Wetteren municipal boundary to Tragelweg in East Flanders, Belgium.
This project faced a three-year delay due to legal proceedings. Spanning approximately 2 kilometers, the redevelopment aims to enhance safety and includes the installation of central medians to regulate traffic, new pedestrian crossings, improved cycle paths, and upgraded bus stops.
How will AW and Wetteren upgrade 2 km of N407 and key intersections?
AW and Wetteren officials will provide comprehensive updates for residents and stakeholders. Public information sessions are planned to detail the construction process, timeline, and anticipated effects on daily traffic. The agency intends to appoint a contractor by summer, facilitating a prompt start after the 2026 construction holiday.
The N407 will undergo a total reconstruction along a 2-kilometer stretch, featuring extensive upgrades at the Slekkebeek intersection. Central islands will be installed to better manage traffic flow, and a short exit lane to Slekkebeek will be introduced.
Plans for the N42, including the Oosterzelesteenweg, are also in early development. While a full reconstruction is not yet scheduled, there is a clear strategy for the section between the on- and off-ramp complex and the Bourgondisch Kruis intersection. Construction will progress once all necessary approvals and funding are secured.
The Bourgondisch Kruis intersection will remain but will undergo a complete redesign, transforming it into a traffic-signal-controlled junction featuring longer lanes and designated bicycle crossings. Traffic lights will also be established at Oude Heerbaan, enhancing safety for cyclists and pairing signals with those at Bourgondisch Kruis to maintain smooth traffic flow.
A two-way cycle path will be introduced on the Mariagaard side. Current traffic lights at Mariagaard and Vantegem in the industrial area will remain, although a new bicycle tunnel will facilitate safer crossings for cyclists and pedestrians. The interchange with the E40 will be retained but will receive a redesign, optimizing the entry and exit ramps to minimize conflict points.
The upgrades to the N407 and N42 roads have been in planning stages for several years. Proposals for the N407 near Kalkensteenweg and Kapellendries were first put forward in 2022; however, progress was hindered by a legal challenge.
Identified for their risk to cyclists and pedestrians, the Slekkebeek and Bourgondisch Kruis intersections have prompted preliminary studies for the N42, including the Oosterzelesteenweg, beginning in 2023 to enhance traffic flow and diminish conflict points near the E40 interchange. With final plans completed in 2025, the region anticipates significant improvements.
