Belgian environmental authorities have issued a permit for a slender arched bridge over the Leie River that will allow passage of ships stacked with three layers of containers.
The present Wevelgem-Lauwe Bridge near the border with France has just 5m of clearance and is the lowest on the river. The new structure will have a clearance of 7m and will be installed alongside the old bridge to minimise disruption during construction.
A visualisation of the new Wevelgem-Lauwe Bridge. Credit: Vlaamse Waterweg
Vlaamse Waterweg, the Flemish Waterway administration, says that the new bridge will also be longer, creating a new green area on the Wevelgem bank. Cyclists will be separated from motor traffic on the new bridge to improve road safety.
Work will start in spring 2026 and will take four years.
The bridge replacement is part of the Seine-Schelde project, which will allow ships up to 4,500t to move between the Flemish seaports in Belgium and the Paris region of France.
