Construction of no. 9 tramline and redevelopment of public space

This project aims at the construction of a new no. 9 tramline between Simonis, UZ Brussels and the King Baudouin Stadium. This line will provide a modern and efficient public transport service.

At a later stage, this line will be extended to the Heysel plain (not a part of the Sweco assignment). The project also provides for the construction of an underground parking facility under the Spiegelplein in Jette.

No. 9 tramline will connect metro lines (Simonis-Heysel), Jette and the east of van Ganshoren with each other. This will make it easier to reach the commercial centre of Jette (Spiegelplein), schools, the Modelwijk, the UZ Brussels (Brussels University Hospital) and the Heysel. The public space is being redeveloped from façade to façade along the entire route. This will create more comfort for both the local residents and road users. The tram gets its own bedding, the intersections become safer and there are better and safer facilities coming for both pedestrians and cyclists. Attention is also being paid to parking areas, both on public roads and underground.

Projected route
The new no. 9 tramline departs at the Simonis underground stop near the Koekelberg basilica and in sequence passes the Koningin Astridplein (Spiegelplein), the Eeuwfeestsquare, the King Baudouin Park through to the Oude Afspanning. Subsequently its projected route runs via the Laarbeeklaan up to the UZ Brussels. Finally, the tram runs via the Dikkebeuklaan and the Generaal de Ceunincklaan to the Houba De Strooperlaan. The total length of the projected route is approximately 5.5 km and runs through a very diverse urban fabric: going from the typology of a 19th century urban sprawl across the historic centre of Jette through to the more recent city expansion from the second half of the 20th century.

Flow microsimulation in Jette.
The projected route of this line includes running along the University Hospital area in Jette with the major axes of Tentoonstellingslaan, Laarbeeklaan and Dikke Beuklaan. Because this zone also forms an important hub in the opening up of the northern fringes of Brussels – with the usual congestion as a result – a quantitative analysis of traffic flow is important. An objective analysis of various future concepts was made by means of a microsimulation. Through these simulations, certain complex mobility data is unravelled.

Public space redevelopment
The entire public area is being transformed from façade to façade together with the integration of the new tramline. This includes taking into account:

• the economic development (Jette’s Sunday market and commercial districts),
• the natural environment (maintaining old avenue trees along the projected route),
• the quality of service by public transport,
• the smooth flow of traffic on the traffic routes concerned,
• the cohabitation of the various users of public space,
• the requirements with regard to soft mobility,
• the adjacent nature areas (with wildlife crossing) and heritage sites,
• potential inconvenience to neighbourhood residents,
• problems related to flooding,
• the parking requirements,
• the development on the UZ site.

Koningin Astridplein (Spiegelplein)
An underground parking area with space for 199 vehicles is being constructed under the western part of the Koningin Astridplein and a section of the Jetselaan. The parking area will have three levels, each consisting of two intermediate levels. As a result of these levels the entire construction can be built in a very compact way. Overground space is freed up owing to the construction of the underground parking area. This offers the opportunity of transforming the Spiegelplein into a car-free meeting place for local residents and ideal for organising the Sunday market. In doing so the design creates both a functional, energetic square and a place where tomorrow it will be congenial to sit on a terrace, on a bench in the sun or in the shade of the trees with room for children to play at the fountain.

The Stross method is being used for the construction of the underground parking facility. The walls and roofing slabs are initially being constructed. An open construction pit with lots of nuisance for traders and residents is not necessary. During the construction period the area above the parking facility may always be used for the market or as a parking place.

Photos © Tom D’haenens