Busy N8 in Leupegem closed until end of summer for safety works

A significant section of the N8 road in Leupegem, Belgium, is closed to traffic until the end of August as construction begins on a vital new bicycle tunnel. The closure, which impacts motorized vehicles requiring substantial detours, is a necessary step towards enhancing safety at a notoriously dangerous intersection.

The affected stretch of the N8 lies between the junctions of Ronseweg and Vontstraat. A contractor will be constructing the tunnel deck for the new bicycle passage. Simultaneously, the roadway and sidewalks in the area will undergo renewal. This segment is a key traffic node in the Flemish Ardennes region and also serves as a route for the Ghent-Kortrijk cycle superhighway.

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We have to grit our teeth for 3 weeks to be able to reap the benefits later.

Motorized traffic will be rerouted via Nederename (from Zwalm) or Ronse (from Brakel and Kluisbergen). Cyclists and pedestrians will navigate a more localized diversion. The local authorities are urging everyone to adhere strictly to the posted signage during the construction period.

"We understand this is inconvenient, but we ask for your understanding. These works will drastically change traffic safety. We have to grit our teeth for 3 weeks to be able to reap the benefits later," stated Blondeel. The timing of the works was deliberately chosen to coincide with a quieter period, following local festivities and preceding the new school year. This phase is expected to be completed by September 1, allowing traffic to resume normal flow for the start of the academic year. The entire tunnel project is slated for completion by the end of 2027 and carries an estimated cost of 8 million euros, with Flanders contributing half.

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We choose consciously for a very quiet period.