Ring road delays in Tielt resume as Flanders scraps study budget

The construction of the southwest ring road in Tielt is experiencing further delays after the Flemish government scrapped a planned budget of 1 million euros for a further study. This section of the ring road is intended to connect the Meulebeeksesteenweg to the road leading to Pittem, completing the ring around Tielt and diverting through traffic away from the city center.

"Especially in a city with many schools like Tielt, this is necessary," said Vincent Byttebier, alderman for Mobility. "The ring road should guide all traffic around the center instead of through it." The project has been in the works for decades, with a reservation strip for the ring road designated back in the 1970s. However, the final piece remains elusive.

The cancellation of the study budget is a significant setback, as it halts progress on the next steps for the project. A study conducted in January had already confirmed the technical feasibility of the construction, but this new development means further postponements.

Byttebier added that Tielt has developed a traffic livability plan to minimize through traffic in the city and is working on a tonnage ban for trucks in the center. Despite these measures, he stressed the continued necessity of the southwest ring road and expressed hope that the Flemish government will soon allocate new funds for its construction.