Hoeleden (Eurotoday) – Local businesses in Hoeleden (Kortenaken) are searching for ways to navigate the disruption caused by ongoing infrastructure projects across the region. One major challenge is the complete closure of Hoeledensebaan—a key connecting road—for motorised traffic over a two-week period.
Officials in Hoeleden, a locality within Kortenaken in Flemish Brabant, Belgium, have launched significant infrastructure upgrades that, while temporarily inconvenient for residents and merchants, aim to address long-standing system inefficiencies. The work on Hoeledensebaan will shut down all motorised traffic for two weeks, and the extensive construction planned for Neerlintersesteenweg is expected to take over two years, as reported by VRT.
The infrastructure improvements form part of a broader plan to enhance water purification systems in Kortenaken.
“A lot of work is being done, mainly because a separate sewer system is being installed—a necessary step, as there has been insufficient investment in water purification in the Velpe for many years,” stated Mayor Kristof Mollu.
He added, “The current purification level in Kortenaken is just 15%. The project commencing today in Hoeleden aims to boost that by 10%, while the one that began in Waanrode back in March will increase it by another 12%.”
In addition to the sewerage overhauls, the municipality is leveraging the construction period to carry out additional upgrades.
“We’re also renewing the road surface and utility lines, aiming to make the road more cyclist-friendly and to install water buffering systems to reduce future flooding risk,” Mollu explained.
“These current works serve as prep for broader sewerage efforts planned for later this year and next. Some of the newer installations, such as pipes and temporary emergency lines, ensure that residents continue to have access to water and electricity throughout the construction period.”
It’s worth noting that ongoing work on Hoeledensebaan and Donkelstraat is unrelated to the sewerage installations.
“These are repair efforts originally scheduled for earlier this year, but weather delays forced a postponement, leading to an overlap with the sewerage works. However, two separate detour routes have been arranged to minimize additional traffic congestion,” noted the mayor.
Despite these efforts, residents and local business owners are feeling the strain. For instance, the shop at the Hognoul petrol station located on Hoeledensebaan will shut down from May 12 to May 16 due to the construction.
“As soon as the work is finished, we will reopen and welcome our customers once again,” said shopkeeper Karin Hognoul.
Over on Neerlintersesteenweg, Ruytings shoe store is not yet affected but is bracing for a 10-day closure during a later construction phase.
“We’ve already received multiple calls from concerned customers who believe we’re inaccessible, but for now, we’re still open,” assured owner Jan Vandenhove.
To stay operational, Vandenhove is turning to lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In 2027, we plan to revive our lockdown-era initiative—visiting our regular customers at home with shoe selections. If they can’t come to us, we’ll go to them by appointment,” he said.
“We’ll also be placing informational signs ourselves. Apart from the 14-day closure directly at our doorstep, we’ll remain reachable through a few alternative routes.”
What Prompted the Infrastructure Upgrades in Hoeleden, Kortenaken?
For years, wastewater management in Hoeleden has suffered from inadequate infrastructure. On May 5, 2025, a series of ambitious sewerage projects were launched through a collaboration between Aquafin, Fluvius, and the municipality of Kortenaken. The primary goal of these endeavors is to streamline wastewater collection and treatment by separating rainwater from sewage—ultimately reducing environmental pollution and protecting local ecosystems.
The project includes comprehensive road and sewer upgrades across Vaanstraat, Driesstraat, Lindestraat, and Neerlintersesteenweg. The full construction initiative is expected to span more than two and a half years, with individual street work taking approximately nine months each. With this long-term investment, Kortenaken aims to modernize its infrastructure, improve public health, and foster sustainable urban development.
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