A1 road (Belgium)
Encyclopedia
The A1 is a major Belgian motorway linking the capital, Brussels
to the city
of Antwerp and further along to the Dutch
border turning into the A16
in the Netherlands
. The motorway is a part of the E19.
(40 meters broad, over a length of about 35 km). The original plans for the A1 dating from the beginning of the 1970s, was based on growth scenarios that have now proven unrealistic. The central reservation was meant for eventual lanes for traffic from Brussels to Antwerp (and vice versa), with in between only ramps in Mechelen
(which explains the complex interchange in Mechelen-North and South). Only between Antwerp and Kontich
the middle lanes have been built with 2 x 2 lanes. The rest of the track has not been built, in spite of the increased traffic. Because the Brussels Ring
and Antwerp Ring can now already no longer manage the traffic at certain times, the "super motorway" would only move the traffic jams from the A1 to the interchanges near Antwerp and Brussels. This broad central reservation, including the unnecessarily long bridges over the A1, along with the partially unused interchange in Mechelen and the lamps that light the unused central reservation, are an urban planning
blunder. The unused lamps have been cut off in 2006.
Shortly after the Dutroux affair, in 1997, trees have been planted on a part of the central reservation in commemoration of killed children: the so-called "Witte Kinderbos" ("White Children's Forest").
On the central reservation between Zemst
and Brussels, a railway is being built since 2007 (with completion projected for 2010) that is part of the new high-speed connection from Antwerp to Brussels Airport
, known as the Diabolo project
. Thereby, a part of the Witte Kinderbos will disappear that will be replaced by green spaces between the A1 and the adjacent residential areas. The biggest part of the forest is located between Mechelen and Antwerp, and will thus remain.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
to the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Antwerp and further along to the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
border turning into the A16
A16 motorway (Netherlands)
The A16 motorway is a motorway in the Netherlands. It runs from the interchange Terbregseplein in the northeastern part of Rotterdam, towards the Belgian border near Breda.- Speed limit :...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The motorway is a part of the E19.
The central reservation
Remarkable to the part between Antwerp and Brussels is the exceptional broad central reservationCentral reservation
On divided roads, such as divided highways or freeways/motorways, the central reservation , median, parkway , median strip or central nature strip is the area which separates opposing lanes of traffic...
(40 meters broad, over a length of about 35 km). The original plans for the A1 dating from the beginning of the 1970s, was based on growth scenarios that have now proven unrealistic. The central reservation was meant for eventual lanes for traffic from Brussels to Antwerp (and vice versa), with in between only ramps in Mechelen
Mechelen
Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
(which explains the complex interchange in Mechelen-North and South). Only between Antwerp and Kontich
Kontich
Kontich is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Kontich proper and Waarloos. On December 31, 2010 Kontich had a total population of 20,584...
the middle lanes have been built with 2 x 2 lanes. The rest of the track has not been built, in spite of the increased traffic. Because the Brussels Ring
Brussels Ring
The Brussels Ring numbered R0, is a ring road surrounding the city of Brussels as well as other smaller towns south of Brussels. The road is a circular highway road of about 75 km with 2 to 3 lanes in each direction...
and Antwerp Ring can now already no longer manage the traffic at certain times, the "super motorway" would only move the traffic jams from the A1 to the interchanges near Antwerp and Brussels. This broad central reservation, including the unnecessarily long bridges over the A1, along with the partially unused interchange in Mechelen and the lamps that light the unused central reservation, are an urban planning
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
blunder. The unused lamps have been cut off in 2006.
Shortly after the Dutroux affair, in 1997, trees have been planted on a part of the central reservation in commemoration of killed children: the so-called "Witte Kinderbos" ("White Children's Forest").
On the central reservation between Zemst
Zemst
Zemst is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the villages of Elewijt, Eppegem, Hofstade, Weerde, Laar and Zemst proper. On January 1, 2006 Zemst had a total population of 21,327...
and Brussels, a railway is being built since 2007 (with completion projected for 2010) that is part of the new high-speed connection from Antwerp to Brussels Airport
Brussels Airport
Brussels Airport is an international airport northeast of Brussels, Belgium. The airport is partially in Zaventem and partially in the Diegem area of Machelen, both located in the Flemish Region of Belgium.Brussels Airport currently consists of 54 contact gates, and a total of 109 gates...
, known as the Diabolo project
Diabolo project
The Diabolo project is creating a new railway line serving Brussels National Airport.It is so called because of its shape: the line forms a chord between the Brussels-Leuven line going east and the Brussels-Antwerp line going north, and connects with them via a triangular junction at each end...
. Thereby, a part of the Witte Kinderbos will disappear that will be replaced by green spaces between the A1 and the adjacent residential areas. The biggest part of the forest is located between Mechelen and Antwerp, and will thus remain.
External links
- (Dutch) History of the A1-E19 on Wegen-Routes.be
- (Dutch) Information about the broad central reservationCentral reservationOn divided roads, such as divided highways or freeways/motorways, the central reservation , median, parkway , median strip or central nature strip is the area which separates opposing lanes of traffic...
on the website of the Flemish governmentFlemish governmentThe Flemish Government is the executive branch of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region. It consists of up to a maximum of eleven ministers, chosen by the Flemish Parliament...