Turnhout's dangerous Miko intersection to be rebuilt in 2027 for safety

The city of Turnhout will fully reconstruct the Miko intersection on its city ring in 2027, aiming to eliminate conflicts between vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. The intersection has long been recognized as a dangerous spot, consistently ranking among Flanders' top 10 black spots for bicycle accidents.

City officials successfully pushed for a complete overhaul rather than just adjusting traffic light timings. "Simply making the traffic lights conflict-free would be insufficient and hinder car traffic flow," said Stijn Adriaensens, alderman for Mobility. He noted that long queues already form for drivers coming from Oud-Turnhout.

The city's own traffic counts convinced the Roads and Traffic Agency to proceed with the full reconstruction, scheduled to begin in early 2027. The project will introduce a conflict-free traffic light system for cyclists and pedestrians. Motorized traffic will benefit from additional turning lanes and a wider roadbed, allowing faster pre-sorting for traffic approaching the intersection. The traffic lights will also adapt to traffic volume, extending green light times for directions with heavy traffic.

While the works, set to start in spring 2027, will undoubtedly cause significant traffic disruption, alderman Adriaensens acknowledged the necessity, stating, "You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs." The new circulation plan for Turnhout will be in effect by the time construction begins, with Otterstraat and Steenweg op Mol becoming the main routes from the city center to the ring road.