Planned for 20 years, and now the works really start: A19 gets a new connection to R8

Current situation

The A19 motorway runs from Ypres to Kortrijk and, near the Kortrijk-West complex, connects to the R8, the ring road around Kortrijk. The connection is made via two level intersections with traffic light control. The hardly legible layout, the difficult weaving movement on the R8 and the insufficient capacity cause traffic unsafety and poor traffic flow on the R8, especially during the morning and evening rush hours.

Future situation

At the junction of the A19 with the R8, there will be a fully-fledged interchange so that both intersections with traffic lights can disappear. The entrance and exit of the outer ring of the R8 on the A19 will remain. The connection of the inner ring of the R8 to the A19 is via a bridge over the R8. The entrance and exit of the entrance and exit complex No. 1 Gullegem/Moorsele (driving direction Kortrijk and R8) will also be moved to make the weaving zone between the complex No. 1 and the R8 longer and to make weaving movements easier. (read more below the photo)

Traffic disruption

The road works also mean a lot of traffic congestion. For example, traffic between Kortrijk and Ypres is diverted via the E17 and E403 past the Aalbeke complex. The inner and outer ring of the R8 will be closed alternately for a while and the entrance and exit Gullegem – Moorsele in the direction of Kortrijk will be closed for a while.

The works will take two years and will not be completed until the end of 2024.