THE ER DEVELOPMENT OF A PLACE MEISER
SCHAERBEEK
March 2008
Rene VANDE MAELE, councilor in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, had already had the opportunity to study in 1995 the redevelopment of Square Vergote. He has just completed an exercise equivalent to the Place Meiser. It is also a continuation of the Boulevard Brand Whitlock and the Square Vergote. We asked Rene Vande Maele us summarize the new study.
Interview.
Rene Vande Maele: As everyone can see every day, the layout of the place Meiser is now more suited to the volume of traffic. We currently there is indeed a small roundabout to the west and a huge crossroads in the east (along the axis of Boulevard) with such limited opportunities (in space and time) turn left (especially towards the Place Dailly).
Place Meiser is a place of intersection of 3 main traffic flows: the floor of Leuven (east-west), Boulevard Reyers - Wahis (north - south) and a virtual axis formed by car from the Liège motorway and moving towards the center (as such, instead Meiser is a city gate larger than if it was referring to the single carriageway of Louvain). At these flows, we must add vehicles traveling in the opposite direction, those who pass through the adjacent streets, 2 tram lines and mobile users with smaller pedestrians and cyclists.
A large roundabout would it be the solution?
RV: A simple roundabout at Montgomery Square as certainly not. Given the volume of traffic, without underground tunnel would be assured paralysis and miles of traffic jams.
But can we redevelop this site without creating a new tunnel (not for cars or for transport)?
RV : Absolutely and that's the meaning of the study that I conducted. This allows more of an achievement considering much faster and not related to fiscal risks. My feeling is that it has done precisely nothing there for decades because it was thought that nothing could be done without building new tunnels. I prove otherwise.
Can you summarize your findings (note: a schematic diagram below)?
RV: idea is to create a large central area crossed by both trams than cars traveling in a straight line in the axis Boulevard Reyers - Wahis other traffic flowing around this central space. Everything is controlled by traffic signals that favor, successively three major traffic flows already mentioned, namely:
1. traffic in a straight line along the axis of boulevard
2. then traffic from the south (including the Liège motorway) and turn left onto the floor of Louvain Place Dailly, this movement may, before the Meiserplein remain east of the boulevard to avoid cross (as now) the traffic going straight, in this phase, the course also favors cars circulating in the opposite direction;
3. and finally the traffic moving in a straight line in the middle of the carriageway Leuven.
And what about the center of the square?
RV: There is a tram station and a vast public space. It should be noted that, for pedestrians, it is not necessary to cross, at once, more than two lanes, to reach the center of the plaza (as usually cross Boulevard and adjacent streets). Pedestrian crossings are not protected by traffic lights are raised, except in the bus lanes.
For a gateway to the city, should do - it not a structure very visible in the center of the square?
RV: I plan to replace the pole lighting by current central reproduction in three dimensions and the same height (not "tagable"), an object from a comic strip (Jacobs) and reminiscent of the antenna tower and RTBF atomium. That would be a tourist attraction undeniable part of a journey evoking Brussels comics.
What future do you see for this project?
RV: Its realization.
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by Azzo-Bibi Today at 8:41 
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