Redevelopment of chaussée de Neerstalle/Neerstalse Steenweg

The project aims to create a “shared space” to make the neighbourhood more peaceful, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone by promoting active modes of transport (such as walking or cycling, for example). Place Saint-Denis/Sint-Denijsplein and its surroundings will thus become a public space where everyone feels like sitting, playing, meeting their neighbours, going shopping or having a drink.

In practical terms, a shared space is characterised by a large continuous surface that extends from façade to façade, where all users (motorised or not) move at a maximum speed of 20 km/h.

• Reconnect the two parts of Place Saint-Denis/Sint-Denijsplein (forecourt and square) to restore its character as a common and central space in the neighbourhood;
• Provide a generous and secure public space that can accommodate various uses (market, flea market, events, sports, games, etc.);
• Create pleasant gathering places for the residents and the businesses (benches, shaded areas, horeca terraces, etc.);
• Reconnect the forecourt and the abbey in their heritage dimension;
• Promote biodiversity within an ecological focal point;
• Introduce water in a playful way (water jets, drinking water fountains, etc.);
• Incorporate a landscape dimension with rain gardens in line with the project “Tracé de l’eau”;
• Enhance the continuity of the blue network (integrated rainwater management, permeable soil zones, etc.).

• Declutter and unify the ground surface;
• Improve comfort for the pedestrian and bicycle traffic;
• Manage car traffic by reducing transit traffic while maintaining accessibility for local destination traffic;
• Enhance road safety;
• Provide opportunities for businesses (reserved areas for stalls and terraces);
• Ensure a good commercial speed for trams;
• Rationalize the distance between the public transport stops and merge the stops Forest-Centre/Vorst-Centrum and Saint-Denis/Sint-Denijs;
• Promote intermodality (Gare Forest-Est/Station Vorst-Oost, tram and bus stops, cycling facilities).