Crumbling roads will boost Belgium’s congestion

A lack of sufficient road maintenance poses future problems for Belgium’s road network. Unless investment is made, the Belgian road network will become overcrowded and dilapidated by 2020. Belgium's Planning Office says that this could result in travel speeds falling 29% from 2008 to 2030 due to congestion and with a corresponding rise in journey times. Belgium's roads are amongst those with the heaviest traffic volumes in Europe. The Planning Office believes that a journey that took one hour and 18 minute journey in 2008 will take one hour and 51 minutes in 2030. Meanwhile, traffic at off-peak times could have speeds cut by 16%. The report produced by the Planning Office claims that cars will still be the most used form of transport in 2030, accounting for 80% of passenger km travelled. Goods transport by road will also increase, accounting for 71% of km-tonnes in 2030. But if transport policy remains unaltered then greenhouse gas emissions will increase by 12% between 2008 and 2030, despite energy efficiency improvements in vehicles.