New safe cycling route through new city park in Kortrijk

The result: a new city park in Heule (parcN50), a comfortable and above all safe bicycle connection from the Hoge Dreef to the Molenstraat and the small ring road (R36) of Kortrijk and new neighborhood and neighborhood nature, says the City of Kortrijk.

“It was previously announced that the former routes of the reservation lane N50c and N328 in North Kortrijk will make way for a green destination with a high-quality bicycle connection. Study bureau Kollektif (new park N50c) and Arcadis (green connection route Molenstraat-Atridpark) have now further developed and refined the design. The works will start in phases in the autumn of 2023. Both designs were explained tonight at an information moment for residents and stakeholders De Vonke in Heule.”

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ParcN50: from field to new adventure park in Heule

“The Bozestraat divides the future park into two zones. The part between Molenstraat and Bozestraat will be more in function of neighborhood and neighborhood greenery. The northern part between the Bozestraat and the Heulebeek valley will become a zone where natural values ​​can develop further and connect to the existing high-quality greenery in the Heulebeek valley.

The landscaping must allow for spontaneous nature development. Robust and adventurous play incentives are provided in the park. New shrubs, trees and grassland provide a combination of open spaces with gentle recreational use and closed spaces where (spontaneous) nature development can do its job.”

Bert Herrewyn, Alderman for Nature and Biodiversity: “From the high natural values ​​at the Heulebeek to the recreational greenery in the Astrid Park, the new park, parcN50, and the green bicycle connection will draw nature into an urban environment and create a robust green network in Kortrijk. The streets and the public domain are also being used to make the city environment climate-robust by means of softening and the extra greenery. With this project, we also provide greenery within walking distance for the Kortrijk residents.”

Accessible and including cycling and walking path

“The bicycle corridor that connects Molenstraat and Watermolenwal also runs through the green area. The bicycle connection, which starts from the Astridpark via Molenstraat, runs through the two new green areas. There will be a four-metre-wide two-way cycle path that branches off to the various adjacent neighborhoods of Leiaarde, Vlakaard and Waterhoek. A brand new bicycle bridge over the Heulebeek makes the connection from the park to the Hoge Dreef in Heule and connects to the existing Warandepad. The bridge itself will become a new vantage point that offers a view over the protected natural landscape of the Heulebeek valley.

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Next to the cycle path there will be a two meter wide footpath. This makes the park accessible to everyone. Zones will be created between the cycle path and the footpath where the draining rainwater from both paths can infiltrate. These ‘WADI’s’ provide a soft, attractive transition between the cycle path and the footpath.”

Axel Weydts, Alderman for Mobility and Public Works: “This will be a bicycle connection that you mainly see in cities like Copenhagen to this day. After all, our ambition is great. We are creating an optimal cycling route here from the center of Kortrijk to the R8 and beyond. Not just any cycling route, but a route that will be fully embedded in greenery and nature. This not only makes cycling much safer, but also much more pleasant.”

From Molenstraat to Astridpark: connecting park areas and comfortable, safe cycling!

“With the Green Connection, a new bicycle-friendly green ribbon will be realized in a highly urbanized area from Molenstraat to the newly to be developed parcN50 and to the existing Astridpark. Softening, new greenery and more space increase the quality of life and the quality of the environment, together with a comfortable and, above all, safe bicycle connection.”

Wout Maddens, Alderman for Building, Housing and Urban Renewal: “This is an illustration of the construction shift. We are converting residential areas into a green destination. For the realization of the green bicycle structure, we are acquiring 42,000 m2 of land from Imroder for an amount of 2,240,000 euros. The deed will be presented to the city council on November 14. “

From unused central reservation to street garden Molenstraat

“The eye-catcher in the Molenstraat will be a 12-metre-wide street garden. It replaces the currently undervalued central reservations in the central part of the street. The street garden is a new, fully-fledged neighborhood greenery where there will be room for play and meeting, but also for nature and water. It will once again be a high-quality link on the green connection between the various parks in the area. There will also be a separate two-way cycle path in the wide part of the road. This makes a high-quality bicycle connection with sports campus Wembley and the other bicycle route to be realized on the former reservation strip of the N328c.”

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Neighborhood parking

Because a lot of softening will take place in the streets of the project area and high-quality bicycle paths will be set up, space must be made available. As a result, street parking at various locations will be abolished. But the deletion does not happen without providing an alternative with new or upgraded neighborhood car parks. For example, in the short term the Molenstraat and in the long term the Jacob Vandervaetstraat will have new neighborhood car parks. The existing neighborhood parking in Weversstraat will be optimized with specific interventions. Neighborhood bicycle sheds and new bicycle leaning brackets for bicycle parking will also be built at various places in the project area.”

Expansion Astridpark with new cycling and walking passage

“From the Molenstraat, via the Jacob Vandervaetstraat and Herderstraat to the Graaf de Smet de Naeyerlaan and finally the Astrid Park, the principles of softening, greening and a fully-fledged bicycle connection will be continued. For example, half of the street in Koninginnelaan will be softened and decorated in the image of the Astrid Park. Here too, a secluded two-way bicycle path and footpath will be constructed to make the connection to the Astrid Park. In order to guarantee a safe bicycle crossing to the Astrid Park afterwards, the route in Graaf de Smet de Naeyerlaan will be fitted in between the chestnut trees. In this way we obtain a fully-fledged north-south axis.”

timing

“For the N50 park, the route between Molenstraat and Bozestraat will be realized during this legislature. For the cycle route outside the park, this legislature envisages the realization of the following zones:

*the part between the Astridpark and the Weversstraat car park, including Weversstraat between Jakob Vandervaetstraat and Stadepad.

*the Molenstraat between the Kortrijksestraat and the Jakob Vandervaetstraat, including the intersections Kortrijksestraat-Molenstraat-Leynvaalsstraat and Jakob Vandervaetstraat-Molenstraat. The sewage system in this part will also be completely renovated.

* The redevelopment in the Jakob Vandervaetstraat and the associated realization of the neighborhood parking will only be carried out after the completion of the Molenstraat (after 2025, i.e. next legislature).