Driekoningen, Sint-Niklaas
The final piece of the station area redevelopment
The Driekoningen project focuses on the reconstruction of the complex western junction in the station area of Sint-Niklaas. Evolta played a key role in this process: from mobility study to the design and supervision of the works. In this way, we contribute to a more efficient and sustainable station environment.
Innovative mobility solutions for the western interchange
With the help of microsimulations, traffic behaviour on the road network was thoroughly analysed. After approval from the City of Sint-Niklaas and De Lijn, two alternatives were designed and tested. Both traffic engineering and urban planning aspects played an important role in the choice of the final design. The concept with double roundabouts clearly emerged as the best. It scored high on various points, such as cycling comfort, accessibility for pedestrians, the connection with the city, integration of the viaduct, and the improvement of public space. The bicycle highway was also optimally integrated, which strengthens the cohesion in the project area. To improve the flow of bus traffic, bus lanes were chosen on both the north and south sides of the roundabouts. This design ensures an efficient combination of functions and takes into account the technical preconditions around the nearby railway line.
Smoother traffic flow for cyclists and pedestrians
To make bicycle traffic in every direction run more smoothly, the crossings on the cycle paths will be adapted for both directions. This should compensate for the barrier effect of the avenues with central reservations or bus lanes. An exception to this is the bicycle crossing on the Spoorweglaan, where a central crossing is offered as an alternative to improve traffic flow. These adjustments ensure a better integration of bicycle traffic into the whole and contribute to safer and more efficient mobility.
The design of the public space is largely determined by the concept of the linear park. With three carefully chosen shades of grey, the grey patchwork takes shape. To strengthen the green character of the park, the zone around the parking spaces and remaining spaces will be greened as much as possible. In addition, an innovative solution was found for water management at Driekoningen. A unique storm basin of 1,250 m³ collects rainwater, in combination with a vacuum flushing system, which effectively tackles flooding. These measures contribute to a sustainable and climate-proof design.
