The R4WO project will transform the R4 West and East into primary roads in Ghent, Evergem, Zelzate and Wachtebeke. The project consists of the conversion of 18 intersections. In 2021, we started work on the first four of these intersections, which had been marked as 'quick wins'. The work consists of the construction of three bicycle tunnels on the R4 West and the transformation of the Euro-Silo intersection on the R4 East into a turbo roundabout.

Turbo roundabout

At the start of 2021, work started on the construction of Belgium's first turbo roundabout at the busy Euro-Silo intersection on the Ghent ring road in Oostakker. This 'roundabout of the future' is an advanced variant of the traditional roundabout, with three lanes and smart traffic lights. It will be the first of its type in Belgium. With up to 6,000 vehicles passing per hour at busy times, the Euro-Silo intersection is a traffic bottleneck. As there is insufficient room for heavy goods vehicles and traffic coming from different directions is forced to cross paths, the existing intersection is a dangerous one too. The new turbo roundabout will help traffic flow more smoothly and safely through the Ghent port area. On top of that, thanks to the renovation and widening of the cycle highway, cyclists will also see several major improvements. A green verge will separate the cycle highway and the R4 from one another. The construction of the roundabout is scheduled to take place across eight phases to ensure traffic disruption is reduced to a minimum. There will be no diversions for vehicle traffic for the entire duration of the works; just narrow lanes and a speed limit. Cyclists will be briefly diverted through the port area, as the cycle highway will need to be closed off near the intersection.

Wippelgem Oval

In August 2021, we started the construction of two new bicycle bridges across the R4 West in Evergem. In Kluizen, near the junction with Hoogstraat, we built tthe Zandekenbrug bridge, and a Hultjenbrug bridge will soon be added to the Wippelgem Oval. Three new bicycle tunnels will also be constructed underneath the Oval. The new bridges will ensure that cyclists can safely cross the R4 and the adjoining railway without ever encountering a motor vehicle. Site Manager Koen comments: "Zandekenbrug will allow cyclists to cycle to and from the port area, while Hultjenbrug will link cycle traffic between the residential areas of Wippelgem and Doornzele. In addition, the bridges and tunnels will offer a comfortable connection to other cycle paths in the vicinity, such as the F40 and F401 cycle highways." Disruption will be reduced to a minimum during the works.