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🇧🇪 Belgium /Disasters & Emergencies

Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht Demands Measures After Cyclist Seriously Injured at Kallo/Melsele Exit

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • A cyclist was seriously injured in a traffic accident at the Kallo/Melsele E34 interchange.
  • Local authorities are urgently requesting traffic safety measures from the Agency for Roads and Traffic, as the southern exit is considered dangerous for cyclists.
  • While a dedicated bike bridge is planned, the municipality seeks immediate improvements like traffic lights or altered lane sorting.

A serious accident involving a cyclist at the Kallo/Melsele E34 interchange has prompted urgent calls for safety improvements from the local government of Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht. The cyclist sustained severe injuries in the incident last Friday.

"The dramatic accident that happened last Friday at the Kallo/Melsele exit unfortunately comes as no surprise," said Mobility Alderman Jeroen Verhulst. "Incidents happen regularly at that location. This time, a cyclist was seriously injured. We naturally sympathize with those affected and want to use this accident as a catalyst for change."

The dramatic accident that happened last Friday at the Kallo/Melsele exit unfortunately comes as no surprise. Incidents happen regularly at that location. This time, a cyclist was seriously injured. We naturally sympathize with those affected and want to use this accident as a catalyst for change.

— Jeroen VerhulstMobility Alderman Jeroen Verhulst commenting on the accident and the long-standing safety concerns at the interchange.

Verhulst noted that the northern side of the interchange is safer due to traffic lights, but the southern side remains a hazardous area for cyclists. The municipal council has long advocated for intervention at this site. A separate bicycle bridge is included in the regional spatial implementation plan for the E34-West, but the municipality is unwilling to wait for its construction.

"Certain measures, such as traffic lights or the removal of pre-sorting, could make the situation safer for cyclists and have been previously presented to the Agency for Roads and Traffic. We will put this back on the agenda at the next meeting," Verhulst stated. The municipality also plans to discuss other problematic interchanges within its territory, including unsafe conditions at the E17-Haasdonk/Bazel exit.

Certain measures, such as traffic lights or the removal of pre-sorting, could make the situation safer for cyclists and have been previously presented to the Agency for Roads and Traffic. We will put this back on the agenda at the next meeting.

— Jeroen VerhulstAlderman Verhulst outlining the municipality's proposed immediate safety improvements.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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