Of course! Here’s the rewritten article with “Brussels Morning” replaced by “Eurotoday”:
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Ghent (Eurotoday) – The Flemish Roads and Traffic Agency (AWV) plans to construct 2.4 kilometres of “weaving lanes” on the motorway stretch between Sint-Denijs-Westrem and Zwijnaarde. However, this project is facing strong opposition from the Ghent Environmental Front (GMF), which argues that it will encourage more car usage and worsen air pollution.
The AWV emphasizes that the motorway will not be widened for this project. Instead, space from the existing median will be used to create the weaving lanes. The agency claims the initiative is purely a technical measure to improve traffic flow and reduce the risk of accidents, not to promote greater car usage.
Will AWV’s weaving lanes in Ghent increase traffic congestion?
The Ghent Environmental Front (GMF) is voicing fierce criticism of the project. They argue that the weaving lanes would function as an unofficial fourth lane, undermining environmental policies and increasing dependence on cars. Steven Geirnaert, GMF’s spokesperson, points to a similar plan from 2019 that was ultimately shelved after protests from GMF and Greenpeace. He warns this new project may simply be a disguised attempt to revive that abandoned expansion.
“In the short term, a weaving lane might provide relief,” says Geirnaert.
“But an additional lane of 2.4 kilometres is simply an expansion of capacity. In the long term, the same problems will arise again: even more traffic, even more traffic jams, and even more air pollution,” he adds.
According to GMF, while the project is presented as a safety measure, it will, in reality, expand road capacity and cause environmental harm. Geirnaert stresses that any initial benefits will be short-lived, with increased traffic and pollution becoming inevitable.
“That is why we are proposing a maximum speed for the entire Ghent region that matches the maximum speed imposed on the Gentbrugge Viaduct—90 kilometres per hour for passenger cars and 70 kilometres per hour for trucks,” says Geirnaert.
Rather than creating new lanes, GMF advocates for reducing speed limits to make traffic both safer and greener. Lowering the limit from 120 km/h to 100 km/h, they argue, would lead to cleaner air and benefit public health, citing reports that show slower traffic improves environmental quality.
While supportive of accompanying measures like higher noise barriers and improved drainage systems planned by the government, GMF insists that more fundamental changes are needed. They believe the focus should be on reducing car dependency through better alternatives like walking, cycling, and public transport.
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Eurotoday is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. Eurotoday publishes unique and independent coverage focusing on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide outlook, it covers EU policies, major developments in Member States, and international events from a European perspective.
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