Urban has given Brussels Mobility the green light to completely redevelop the Avenue Charles-Quint in Ganshoren and Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, façade to façade.
This avenue, which was laid out in the 1960s as an urban motorway directly linking the city centre to the E40, was devoid of greenery and received heavy traffic, noise and pollution. It was designed more for car traffic than with neighbourhood life in mind.
Now, it will be transformed into a boulevard on a human scale, designed for all modes of transport, with the aim of making traffic flow more smoothly and improving the safety and quality of life for all its users.
A rebalanced avenue for all modes of transport
The Avenue Charles-Quint, a major thoroughfare, will retain its two lanes of traffic, but the space will be redistributed to better share the roadway between cars, cyclists and pedestrians, while improving public spaces. The parking spots will become permeable and will be integrated into the green spaces, contributing to better rainwater management.
Between planted areas and recreational spaces
The project includes the planting of a large number of avenue trees and the creation of planted areas all along the avenue. A number of squares will also be developed to provide residents with places where they can meet and relax. Four such areas will be created at the Clos Louis Banken, the Clos Willy Chambon, the Rue Oscar Maesschalck and the Rue de Termonde.
The Place Marguerite d’Autriche will also be transformed into a square, with play areas and high-quality street furniture, forming part of the regional green walk.
Cycle paths designed for comfort and safety
Wide, segregated cycle paths will be created in the avenue that currently has none, and wider pavements will enable cyclists and pedestrians to travel in complete safety. These facilities will connect to the future Flemish bicycle highway C2 and encourage active mobility.
Smart traffic lights for smoother traffic flow
A dynamic and smart traffic light management system will also smoothen the flow of public transport and car traffic, reduce congestion and optimise journey times for bus routes.
→ This transformation of the Avenue Charles-Quint illustrates the Brussels Capital Region’s ambition to create nicer, greener and safer urban boulevards, where mobility goes hand in hand with quality of life for residents.
Find out more about the neighbourhood
Art Deco Brussels 2025: focus on the northern neighbourhoods
As part of the Art Deco 2025 programme, Urban, visit.brussels and their partners are taking you on a tour of a lesser-known part of the capital: the neighbourhood overlooked by the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart, straddling the border between the municipalities of Ganshoren and Koekelberg!
Heritage Days 2025: the neighbourhood of the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Take part in this not-to-be-missed event and immerse yourself in the heart of the neighbourhood through a series of activities: visit sites 105 to 109, for instance, and discover the Résidence Basilique, the Cité Moderne garden city or walk through the gates of the largest Art Deco monument in the world.
By the way, do you recognise the character featured on this year’s poster?
“Brussels, City of Art and History” no. 52: Ganshoren, between city and nature
In the 52nd issue of the collection, Urban focuses on Ganshoren: a municipality with many faces, combining natural heritage and architectural diversity.
