Vilvoorde (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Since August 9, heavy vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes have been banned from the Vilvorde overpass on weekends (Friday at 11pm until Monday at 4am) until early 2026. Despite this, 15% of drivers ignored the ban, resulting in fines of €174. The authorities plan to install physical barriers to better enforce compliance.
Since the second weekend of August, heavy vehicles have been banned from the Vilvoorde flyover on weekends. In particular, the inner ring (Ring 0) in the direction of Zaventem has been banned from 11 p.m. on Friday until 4 a.m. on Monday. This measure is intended to reduce the load on the flyover during peak times and to facilitate maintenance when traffic volumes are low. The ban does not affect regular or light vehicles, which can continue to use the inner ring without restrictions. Heavy vehicles can still drive on the outer ring in the direction of Groot-Bijgaarden, allowing the authorities to manage traffic effectively while maintaining the safety and durability of the flyover.
What is the purpose of the weekend truck ban on the Vilvorde flyover?
The ban on heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes on the Vilvoorde viaduct is important for bridge welding work. Heavy traffic creates vibrations that make welding difficult to do safely and correctly, which can affect repairs and the stability of the bridge. Stopping heavy vehicles on weekends allows workers to work undisturbed, making maintenance easier. The responsible group, called Werkvennootschap, wants to keep everything safe by keeping heavy vehicles off the viaduct during this period, and to ensure that the bridge lasts longer, while still allowing regular traffic to pass on the outer ring.
Before the construction began, around 3,000 to 3,300 heavy vehicles used the overpass on weekends. During the first weekend of work, that number was reduced by about half, but hundreds of drivers still use it. Marijn Struyf of the Werkvennootschap says that around 15 percent of drivers are ignoring the ban, despite signs and a large-scale campaign to inform local and foreign drivers. Last weekend, 30 trucks were fined in just one hour. To address this, physical barriers are planned to be installed to prevent heavy vehicles from accessing the overpass on weekends, but this will first need to be approved by the police and the Road Traffic Authority, and this will take some time. The ban will remain in place until spring 2026, and ignoring it is a serious offence, punishable by a fine of €174.
