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Brussels, 16 June 2025 — After more than two years of extensive renovations, the critical E411 motorway connecting Brussels to Luxembourg is set to reopen in full by 11 July, promising drivers a smoother and faster journey between Belgium’s capital and the Grand Duchy.
Stretching nearly 19 kilometers between Daussoulx and Thorembais-Saint-Trond, the €50 million upgrade marks the culmination of a long-awaited modernization effort on one of Belgium’s busiest transport corridors. The project, launched in March 2023, involved resurfacing both directions of the three-lane highway, including emergency lanes, as well as comprehensive structural improvements, as reported by Luxembourg Times.
A Much-Needed Facelift
The E411 has long been a source of frustration for commuters and freight operators alike. Narrow lanes, frequent bottlenecks, and deteriorating infrastructure have contributed to chronic congestion and delays. Over the past decade, the condition of the road had worsened significantly, with potholes, uneven surfaces, and crumbling bridges making for an often nerve-wracking driving experience.
To address these issues, engineers renovated bridges with new waterproofing layers and concrete repairs, installed a central berm drainage system, and reinforced retaining structures along vulnerable stretches. Noise barriers were also erected along a one-kilometer section to mitigate environmental impact on nearby communities.
In recent weeks, some lanes have already reopened to traffic with a temporary 70 km/h speed limit. From Brussels heading toward Namur, the central and right lanes were restored on 3 June, offering a preview of the improved conditions to come.
Europe’s Mobility Paradox
The completion of this stretch of the E411 comes at a time when the region’s broader mobility challenges are under scrutiny. Earlier this year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Council President António Costa, and Parliament President Roberta Metsola traveled from Brussels to Luxembourg by private jet for a Europe Day ceremony — bypassing the notoriously sluggish rail link that currently takes over three hours.
This stands in stark contrast to the 1980s, when the train journey was shorter and more efficient. Despite a major rail modernization project launched in 2007, progress has been hampered by disputes over cost-sharing between Belgium and Luxembourg. With a projected total price tag of €750 million, the high-speed rail upgrade is now expected to be completed only by the end of the decade.
Green Innovation on Site
One standout feature of the E411 upgrade was the creation of the Ostin recycling platform near Éghezée — a first-of-its-kind initiative in Wallonia. Designed to minimize environmental impact, the platform processed 652,000 tonnes of construction materials on site, including 495,000 tonnes for recycling and 157,000 tonnes for reuse in new road layers.
Without the local facility, transporting materials to distant treatment centers would have generated over 2.6 million kilometers of truck travel. Thanks to Ostin, that number was reduced to just 450,000 kilometers, significantly cutting emissions and fuel consumption.
Legacy of Neglect: The Chabert Circular
The current wave of roadworks across Wallonia can be traced back decades, to a fateful decision made in 1981. In response to economic pressures during the oil crisis, then-Public Works Minister Jos Chabert drastically cut costs on road construction projects. Among other measures, he eliminated a crucial 5–6 cm waterproof “sandwich layer” between concrete slabs — a move that would prove catastrophic in the long run.
By the late 1980s, Walloon highways were plagued by “punch-out” failures — a phenomenon where concrete slabs cracked under repeated stress. Water seeped into unprotected foundations, causing widespread structural damage. Today, the consequences of those austerity measures still haunt the region’s road network.
A Network Under Pressure
Wallonia’s motorways are among the most densely used in Europe, carrying a disproportionately high volume of heavy goods vehicles — around 35%, compared to 10–15% elsewhere. Moreover, six out of ten trucks on the region’s roads are foreign-registered, underscoring its role as a key transit corridor within the EU.
Compounding the issue, regional authorities inherited an aging infrastructure network after decentralization without adequate funding for maintenance. As a result, preventative upkeep has often been replaced by costly emergency interventions.
Unpredictable weather patterns further complicate matters. Construction windows are limited due to the need for specific temperature and humidity conditions for asphalt and concrete applications.
The New Normal: Permanent Roadworks
Despite significant investment — over €3 billion since 2010 by public infrastructure financier Sofico — the scale of needed upgrades remains staggering. The 2019–2024 Mobility Plan identified over 5,000 projects requiring €6.65 billion in total.
With increasing demands from electric vehicle infrastructure, climate adaptation, and growing traffic volumes, roadworks are likely to remain a fixture of daily life in Wallonia and beyond.
“In the medium term, the trend will not be downward,” warns Brussels Mobility, which reported 95,000 construction sites in the capital region alone in 2023 — up from just 25,000 in 2014.
While the reopening of the upgraded E411 offers a welcome reprieve for motorists, it also underscores the broader reality facing European transport networks: decades of underinvestment must now be addressed alongside the demands of a rapidly evolving mobility landscape.
For now, however, Belgian and Luxembourgish drivers can look forward to a less stressful commute — at least until the next round of construction begins.
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