“ Charleroi DC”: works start in February 2021!

CultureInfrastructureInvestmentsNews

The good news was announced this earlier week by Charleroi’s mayor Paul Magnette in person: the works for revitalization of public spaces in Charleroi DC have just taken a final decisive step in its administrative process. There are no more obstacles for the urban renewal of the Upper Town, eagerly awaited by citizens but also by the university campus, public institutions, the events center, La Culture, etc. .

“Despite a long procedure and two appeals which caused us a delay, we are still on time for the use of 43 million Euros granted by the EU and the RW for the realization of this construction site that will completely change the face of Ville-Haute”, stated mayor Magnette.

Charleroi DC will change the appearance of this part of the city. Speaking of redevelopment, everything will be reviewed from top to bottom from Boulevard Jacques Bertrand to the Marsupilami roundabout, passing through Charles II and Manège.

“This is a huge project that will change the appearance of the Upper Town also in terms of friendliness and mobility. The whole stake”, specified the mayor, “will consist above all in properly organizing the various phases of the site. From this point of view, we have learned the lessons of the past as well as lessons of the work carried out in the Lower Town”.

Initially planned for an amount of € 33 million, the project for the renovation and revitalization of public spaces benefited from a reallocation of €10 million from the relocation of the Palais des Congrès within the Grand Palais. This reallocation gives the City of Charleroi new latitude to carry out the entire contract, conditional phases included.

The interventions will focus on The square Charles II (the “Heart of the City”), the place where the Town Hall and the Belfry of Charleroi stand, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It will be dedicated to pedestrians and the small streets surrounding the Town Hall will be renovated. Square Manège will be adapted for organization of various events. Two streets, Rue Neuve and Rue de la Régence will be renovated, as well as Avenue de Waterloo, Avenue Henin and Square du Monument. Many other parts will be in the focus as well.

The challenge is to succeed in transforming the existing esplanade into a genuine gentle travel route (pedestrian and bicycles only), in order to reweave the link between the city center and two future major polarities that are the Campus des Sciences, des Arts and Trades (UT platform) and the multimodal event center (Expo / congress – Fine Arts).

The works will start at the beginning of February 2021 and end 30 months later according to the schedule. However, from January, small interventions will take place, with no impact on traffic.

Photo: wikipedia