Westhoek prepares for waterlogging: ditches to become buffer zones

Roadside ditches in Belgium's Westhoek region are being transformed into buffer zones to combat increasing water damage. The Flemish Agency for Roads and Traffic is leading the effort, starting with the Seulestraat in Nieuwkerke.

Heavy rainfall often causes water and silt from surrounding fields to flood the ditches, leading to waterlogging and erosion. To address this, the agency is collaborating with the municipality of Heuvelland and Inagro vzw as part of the European 'Resilient Westhoek' project. This project aims to implement climate adaptation measures to mitigate water-related issues in the region.

"By converting the ditches into buffer ditches, they can capture more rainwater, and the water is discharged more slowly," explained Evelien Vandecaetsbeek from the Agency for Roads and Traffic. The first phase involves installing weirs, or concrete partitions, every 20 meters along the Seulestraat ditch. These structures will allow water levels to rise, with excess water then flowing over the top through smaller openings, preventing it from spilling onto the road and slowing its journey to lower areas.

Additional erosion control measures, such as wood chip dams and grass zones, are also being implemented to minimize silt entering the ditches. The initial work on Seulestraat is scheduled to finish by the end of the summer holiday, making way for the next phase of road renewal from early September to mid-November 2026.