Sweltering temperatures across Belgium are having a serious impact on road infrastructure, with heat-related damage causing significant delays on multiple motorways in Flanders.
According to the Flemish Traffic Centre, several concrete sections have buckled or risen due to the intense heat, resulting in partial closures and long traffic queues.
Two of the most severely affected routes are the E313 between Lummen and Liège, and the E314 between Lummen and Leuven. In Diepenbeek, a section of the E313 experienced heat-induced damage but has since undergone emergency repairs.
However, only a single lane remains open in two separate locations while the concrete hardens, causing a traffic jam that stretches approximately six kilometres.
On the E314 motorway towards Lummen, traffic near Aarschot has been reduced to a single lane, leading to a 4-kilometre backlog.
In the opposite direction, near Tielt-Winge, temporary repairs were carried out overnight. While the road has reopened as of 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, authorities have imposed a speed limit of 70 kilometres per hour as a precautionary measure.
The Flemish Traffic Centre warned that these conditions are likely to persist for the next several days as temperatures remain high and crews await the full hardening of newly poured concrete.
Officials are urging drivers to be patient and to monitor real-time traffic updates before embarking on their journeys. The situation is particularly challenging for festivalgoers headed to Rock Werchter, one of Belgium’s most popular summer music events.
The traffic centre estimates around 5 kilometres of heavy congestion for drivers approaching the festival grounds.
“This kind of heat puts enormous stress on concrete roadways, especially older sections that are more susceptible to expansion and buckling,” said a spokesperson from the Flemish Traffic Centre. “Motorists should be prepared for delays and plan alternative routes when possible.”
Emergency services and road crews have been deployed to monitor the evolving situation and address any further damage as quickly as possible. Additional repairs may be necessary if temperatures continue to rise.
Authorities are advising all road users, especially those heading to summer destinations or festivals, to check the latest traffic information, adhere to temporary speed limits, and carry sufficient water for long delays.
As Belgium continues to grapple with unusually high summer temperatures, the impact on infrastructure serves as a reminder of how climate extremes are increasingly affecting daily life across the country.
