Traffic disruption on Antwerp ring road in both directions during autumn break and weekend of November 11

On Saturday, October 25, the first section of the Bypass towards the Netherlands, the temporary highway along the R1, was opened. From November 12, a new access road to the R1 towards Ghent and Brussels will open in Deurne. 

During the long weekend of November 11, serious traffic disruptions are expected on the Antwerp ring road towards Ghent and Brussels between Merksem and Berchem and on connecting highways. Don't be caught off guard and choose an alternative means of transportation if possible. 

The Smart ways to Antwerp website and app provide a clear overview of all alternatives and offer real-time, customized travel advice. For up-to-date traffic information on the highways, you can always visit the website of the Flemish Traffic Center.

Opening of the Bypass during the weekend of October 24 

From Saturday, October 25, the first section of the Bypass towards the Netherlands was opened, between the AFAS Dome (former Sportpaleis) and the junction of the R1 with the E19 and the A12 (“Antwerp North”).

Read more about the Bypass, the temporary highway along the R1.

Major traffic disruption from November 7 to 12 on the Antwerp ring road

The current Deurne access road on Schijnpoortweg will close permanently at 10 p.m. on November 7. From November 12, you will be able to use a new Deurne access road to access the Antwerp Ring Road towards Ghent and Brussels. The new access road starts from Noordersingel near Spoor Oost, runs parallel to the junction with the E313 and connects to the Antwerp Ring Road further on thanks to a new section of road. The new access road will eliminate dangerous and time-consuming weaving movements and make traffic flow more smoothly and safely towards Ghent and Brussels. 

To make the switch, there will be serious traffic disruption on the Antwerp Ring Road between Merksem and Antwerp East, on incoming highways, and at the Merksem and Berchem access and exit roads from 10 p.m. on Friday, November 7, to 5 a.m. on Wednesday, November 12. 

Severe traffic disruption from November 7 to 12 

Antwerp Ring Road towards Ghent: 

•    Only two lanes will be available on the Ring Road from Deurne to Borgerhout throughout the entire period. During several nights, we will reduce the Ring to one lane, namely: Friday, November 7 to Saturday, November 8 between 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., Sunday, November 9 to Monday, November 10 between 11:30 p.m. and 4:30 a.m., and Monday, November 10 to Tuesday, November 11 between 11:30 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. 

• The Deurne access road to the Ring in the direction of Ghent will be completely closed. The Deurne exit road will remain open as usual.
• The on- and off-ramps in Berchem and Merksem are completely closed.
• The Borgerhout exit is open, but with a shortened exit lane. On Sunday, November 9, and Monday, November 10, between 11:30 p.m. and 4:30 a.m., the Borgerhout exit will be temporarily closed.   

E313 junctions:

• The junction from the E313 to the R1 towards Ghent is completely closed. Traffic heading towards Ghent should follow the junction from the E313 to the R1 towards the Netherlands and make a U-turn via the Merksem junction.
• The junction from the R1 coming from the Netherlands to the E313 is completely closed. Traffic heading towards the E313 should therefore remain on the R1 towards Ghent and make a U-turn via the Berchem complex. This will allow them to connect to the E313 from the R1 towards Ghent. 

Local closures:

• Groenendaallaan is closed towards Merksem between Noorderlaan and Lambrechtshoekenlaan, except for traffic destined for Bermstraat.
• Grotesteenweg is closed towards the city center between Koninklijkelaan and Singel. Elisabethlaan is closed towards the city center between Koninklijkelaan and Grotesteenweg, with the exception of local traffic. 

The Liefkenshoektunnel will be toll-free in both directions during the day on the following dates: 

• Saturday, November 8, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday, November 9, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Monday, November 10, from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 11, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Local impact of U-turns at the Berchem and Merksem entrance and exit complex

Due to the disruption at the Antwerp-East junction, U-turn movements are being organized at the entrance and exit complexes in Merksem and Berchem. 

Both the access and exit road in Merksem as well as the Groenendaallaan in the direction of Merksem are closed. Want to get on the highway? Then take the entrance at complex 5 Kleine Bareel. Traffic from the port will follow a diversion via complex 16 Ekeren. Driving towards Merksem? Then follow the diversion Noorderlaan – Masurebrug – Lambrechtshoekenlaan. 

The access and exit road in Berchem as well as the Grotesteenweg in the direction of the city center are also closed. If you want to get on the highway, you can do so via complex 14 Kiel, complex 5 Berchem/Wilrijklaan, and complex 3 Borgerhout. Are you driving towards the city center? Then follow the diversions via Jan De Voslei, the Jan van Rijswijcklaan and Generaal Lemanstraat or via Roderveldlaan. 

Cyclists and pedestrians can always pass the roadworks. The public transport timetable will be maintained as much as possible. 

Night work to prepare and finish the Deurne access road 

Night work is required both before and after the long weekend to prepare and complete the construction of the new access road.  

We will be preparing for the access road changeover over three nights:

• During the night of Tuesday, November 4 to Wednesday, November 5, between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., traffic on the junction of the E313 to the R1 towards Ghent and Brussels will be restricted to one lane.
• During the night of Wednesday 5 to Thursday 6 November, between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., the junction of the R1 coming from the Netherlands to the E313 will be completely closed. Traffic will be diverted via Berchem.
• During the night of Thursday 6 to Friday 7 November, between 11.30 p.m. and 4.30 a.m., traffic on the Antwerp Ring Road towards Ghent will be restricted to one lane at the Merksem access road.
• Also during the night of Thursday 6 to Friday 7 November between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m., the Noordersingel towards Borgerhout (south) will be closed between Schijnpoortweg and Spoor Oost. Traffic will be diverted via Ten Eekhovelei, Lakborslei and Turnhoutsebaan. 

After the works, two more nights will be needed to finish the new ramp: 

• During the night of Wednesday 12 to Thursday 13 November, between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., traffic on the Antwerp Ring Road towards Ghent and Brussels will use two lanes.
• During the night of Saturday 22 to Sunday 23 November, between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m., traffic on the Antwerp Ring Road towards Ghent and Brussels will be restricted to one lane. 

From four to three lanes on the Antwerp Ring Road towards Ghent 

Between November 7 and 12, the Antwerp Ring Road towards Ghent between the AFAS Dome and the Antwerp-East junction will be phased and permanently reduced from four to three lanes. During the autumn break, the section between the Antwerp-North junction and the AFAS Dome was already reduced to three lanes. 

From Wednesday, November 12, the entire Ring towards Ghent between Merksem and Borgerhout will have three lanes. The speed limit will be reduced from 100 to 70 kilometers per hour. This will reduce the risk of accidents and create a stable situation in preparation for the Bypass towards Ghent/Brussels, which will also have three lanes. The closed lane also creates space to build the Bypass. And that brings us one step closer to a sunken, fully covered Antwerp Ring Road.