Drij Borren ecoviaduct

Link between Sonian Forest and Drij Borren Castle

The viaduct over the E411 at Drij Borren Castle will become an eco-viaduct. An underpass will expand the habitat for plants and small animals. It will enable them to cross the E411 safely. In the future, commuters and recreational users will also be able to cross the E411 easily by means of renovated cycling and walking paths on the viaduct.

'Werken aan de Ring' programme connects

Although the Ring is often still an inconvenient barrier these days, the aim of the Government of Flanders 'De Werkvennootschap' is to reconnect areas inside and outside the Ring through the Werken aan de Ring programme. In this way, fragmented nature areas are linked to each other again. Attractive areas for recreation, such as the Sonian Forest, will be made more accessible. It is also an important goal of Werken aan de Ring.

A study on the section of the Ring to the east of Brussels is currently under way. It will examine possible solutions for the four major traffic intersections. A few ‘quick wins’ have already been selected – these are projects that can be completed relatively rapidly, and that have outcomes benefiting the mobility and quality of life in the surrounding area. The Drij Borren Eco-viaduct is one of these wins.

A new connection for fauna and flora

The original landscape changed dramatically when the viaduct was built in the 1960s. Currently, an earthen berm under the viaduct divides the valley in two. As a result, the location does not function properly as an ecological link for fauna and flora.

In the design, the berm under the viaduct at Drij Borren Castle is removed by digging it out. We will then dig deeper so that the underpass provides an optimal link for plants and animals. We are restoring the original landscape by moving the car park and building the cycle path for the F204 bicycle highway above the viaduct. This is how we intend to reconnect the Sonian Forest.