Saint-Ghislain Viaduct Closure Hits Local Merchants During Summer Sales

Construction Timing and Traffic Frustrations

Since Sunday, the viaduct in Saint-Ghislain has been completely closed to traffic to facilitate road resurfacing. The project, overseen by the SPW, is scheduled to run through July 12. Local officials chose this window specifically to coincide with the school holidays, aiming to minimize the impact on daily commuters.

However, the transition has not been smooth for the local business community. Jacques Vinx, president of the association, personally tested the detour routes and found the signage severely lacking. The current navigation instructions fail to inform drivers that the town center and its shops remain accessible.

After my workday, I followed the signs as if I didn’t know Saint-Ghislain. At no point is it indicated that the city center and shops remain accessible. Either you go in circles, or you are sent elsewhere. Jacques Vinx, President of the association

Impact on the Summer Sales Period

The timing of the closure has become the primary point of contention. For many retailers, the first week of the sales is the most important period of the year. Merchants who opened their doors this past Sunday reported a near-total absence of foot traffic, which they attribute directly to the confusing road signage and the perception that the town center is blocked off.

Vinx noted that the current detour plans are difficult to read and discourage visitors from attempting to reach the shopping district. He argues that clearer signage pointing toward available parking and open commercial zones could have mitigated the losses, but instead, potential customers are simply choosing to shop in other towns.

Communication Gaps and Future Accountability

The dispute has highlighted a recurring friction between the municipal government and local business owners. While the town held a meeting with the administration in December last, Vinx maintains that it failed to provide a platform for a meaningful exchange. He claims he was the only invited to do so before the communal council.

Florence Monier, the bourgmestre, expressed regret over the public nature of the merchants’ complaints. She stated that the town had addressed the association’s concerns regarding signage within hours of receiving an email from Vinx. She defended the project’s timeline, noting that the work had to be completed before the building holidays to ensure traffic flow is restored by the start of the school year.

It was carried out in ten months. And while we understand that this closure during the sales period is not ideal, I am open to hearing a miracle solution. It was decided to be outside the school period, and before the building holidays so that at the start of the school year, everything is wrapped up and traffic is fluid again. I don’t see how the SPW could have done otherwise… Florence Monier, bourgmestre

Vinx is now calling for the issue to be formally placed on the agenda of a future communal council meeting, encouraging local shopkeepers to attend and hear directly from the authorities. The merchants acknowledge the necessity of the modernization efforts for the viaduct intersection but remain adamant that future infrastructure projects must prioritize clearer, more visible access to the town’s commercial heart.

Sources: rtl.be.