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🇧🇪 Belgium /Energy & Infrastructure

Kortrijk Bridge Remains Closed in Heatwave, Disrupting Shipping Traffic

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Budabrug bridge in Kortrijk, Belgium, will remain closed during high temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius.
  • The closure is due to the bridge's expansion caused by heat, making its operation unsafe.
  • This primarily affects shipping traffic on the Leie river, as larger vessels cannot pass.

The Budabrug bridge over the Leie river in Kortrijk, Belgium, will remain closed during periods of high temperatures, specifically when the mercury rises above 30 degrees Celsius. This measure is in place to ensure safety, as the heat causes the bridge structure to expand, making its operation potentially hazardous.

The Budabrug in Kortrijk has expanded so much due to the heat that it can no longer be safely lowered when it is raised.

— Geert WeymeisExplaining the safety concerns related to the bridge's expansion.

According to Geert Weymeis of the Flemish Waterway, the expansion means the moving part of the bridge no longer fits safely onto the land-based sections. "The Budabrug in Kortrijk has expanded so much due to the heat that it can no longer be safely lowered when it is raised," Weymeis explained. "The moving part is just a bit wider than usual and could hit and damage the railings on land. That is why we are keeping the bridge closed when it is too hot."

The moving part is just a bit wider than usual and could hit and damage the railings on land. That is why we are keeping the bridge closed when it is too hot.

— Geert WeymeisDetailing the specific mechanical issue caused by heat expansion.

The problems began the previous day, with the bridge only deemed safe to operate again late in the evening when temperatures dropped. The situation is expected to continue for the coming days, posing significant challenges for shipping traffic. "When the bridge is closed, larger or heavily loaded ships cannot pass," Weymeis noted. "The Leie is an important shipping route with dozens of ships passing daily, so a number of ships will have to wait."

When the bridge is closed, larger or heavily loaded ships cannot pass.

— Geert WeymeisDescribing the impact of the closure on shipping.

Shipping operations are expected to resume normal service once temperatures decrease. Forecasts suggest this may occur around Sunday or Monday, providing relief for the affected vessels and the waterway's overall logistics. Until then, the heat-induced closure will continue to disrupt the flow of goods along this key Belgian waterway.

The Leie is an important shipping route with dozens of ships passing daily, so a number of ships will have to wait.

— Geert WeymeisHighlighting the significance of the Leie river for transport and the consequences of the delay.
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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