NATO summit on Thursday: How Belgium prepares for possible traffic disruptions
Brussels transport company MIVB already advised its travelers to take the metro for trips in the city center from 23 till 25 March.
NATO is set for an extraordinary summit on Thursday in Brussels to discuss the war in Ukraine, in which US President Joe Biden will participate.
Leaders across the EU will gather on Thursday to join the US president, and a G7 meeting is also on the agenda.
These series of meetings are likely to have an impact on mobility in the Belgian capital, announced the Brussels-Capital-Ixelles police force on Saturday. Brussels transport company MIVB already advised its travelers to take the metro for trips in the city center from 23 till 25 March.
A ban on parking will be implemented for security measures on Wednesday through Friday, which will see the police remove all vehicles (including bicycles and scooters) from designated areas. Traffic will also be restricted within and around some quarters, including NATO headquarters, the American Embassy, the Brussels Hotel and the European district.
What else to expect?
NATO surroundings, like the A201 /avenue Léopold III, will close on Wednesday from 06:00
The area around the American Embassy, rue Ducale and part of Boulevard du Régent between rue de la Loi and rue Lambermont, will close from noon on Wednesday until Friday, 25 March. In the European district, security perimeters will be set up on 24 March in the morning.
Commuters can expect temporary traffic closures, particularly around t he R0, the E40, the Reyers complex, rue de la Loi, rue Belliard, Boulevard de Waterloo and Avenue de la Toison d’Or.
Some bus and tram lines will be diverted and some of the entrances to metro stations Schuman and Arts-Loi will close. The disruption caused by Biden's visit will mainly be in the vicinity of NATO, the US embassy, Hertogstraat and the European Quarter. There, bus lines will not serve stops, be diverted or experience hindrance.
© BELGA