As anyone who uses it knows, the Brussels Ring road has reached, and sometimes exceeded, the limits of its capacity. The Flemish government has commissioned the Flemish Traffic Centre (VVC) to carry out a study, which has not been reticent in giving its imagination full rein. Some of the ideas being considered:

• widening the Ring between the E19 interchange at Machelen and the Sint-Stevens-Woluwe A3 interchange, up to a maximum width in some places of 17 lanes

• extending the road’s capacity across the entire northern sector, from Groot-Bijgaarden to Sint-Stevens- Woluwe

• constructing a second, outer ring road from Aalst to Mechelen to Leuven for through traffic

• building a tunnel from the E40 at Sterrebeek and then completing the southern part of the Ring with a tunnel under the Zoniënwoud at the very edge of the Flemish Region

The options, together with the cross- Brussels tunnel, represent the full range of possibilities, from cautious to outlandish. But they are only – as everyone concerned likes to stress – food for discussion. All parties last weekend seemed to be united in considering the idea of a tunnel under Brussels as “nonsense”.

The original plan, announced at the end of 2008, was for a 17-lane Ring, intended to separate local traffic and through traffic. The other alternatives have now been added to the list for study.

One negative reaction came from Brussels Region. Although the Ring lies in Flemish territory, the impact on Brussels is huge, from traffic, noise and pollution. Brussels insisted on being consulted; according to the capital’s transport and public works minister, Brigitte Grouwels, initial talks have already taken place, and further meetings are planned. One of the principal issues will be the integration of public transport and the increased capacity of the Ring.

Flemish mobility minister Hilde Crevits has made it clear she will be able to take the political decision “in good faith and conscience”.

Traffic congestion is reckoned by the EU to cost business in Flanders about €1.9 billion a year in lost productivity. Along with infrastructure work involved in the eventual plan, the government will also be looking at other ways of reducing congestion, such as some sort of toll, carpool parking facilities, the integration of public transport and improved signalling technology. The results of the study are expected to be complete by the summer.