E40 - Haspengouw
09.36
From 2010 to 2011
TML conducted a social cost-benefit analysis for a possible link between Haspengouw and the E40, calculating travel times and economic effects using the ISEEM model. The study examined the impact of different traffic scenarios on the region and the potential benefits compared to investment costs.
The town of Sint-Truiden is centrally located between the E314, E313, and E40 motorways and, according to the provisions of the Spatial Structure Plan Flanders, has a primary access to the main road network, namely the N80 towards Hasselt. However, this connection is not logical for traffic towards Brussels. Access to Haspengouw towards Brussels currently happens via the N3 towards Tienen or via the N80 to Gingelom and from there to the E40. A previous study showed that the de-duplication of the N3 or the construction of the regional road would not lead to a social benefit because both alternatives fail to attract enough traffic.
In this study, going beyond the December 2008 feasibility study, we prepared a full-fledged social cost-benefit analysis (SCBA) for a theoretical link between Haspengouw and the E40.
The basic tasks in this study were as follows:
- The calculation of the effects on travel times, considering all developments (industrial park, tourism ...) throughout Haspengouw.
- The calculation of the economic impact (not included in the December 2008 feasibility study) with the ISEEM model.
- The impact on the "neighbours" (including Wallonia).
The study shows that the net social benefits, excluding investment costs, range between 21 and 35 million euros. There is an improvement in the competitiveness of the SW-Haspengouw region and we expect the new connection to create around 12 FTE of additional employment. The new connection would have a limited positive impact on safety (fewer accidents) and traffic noise.
This is offset by an expected total investment cost of between €22 million and €77 million. In this sense, we conclude that only if a low-cost solution is found, a new connection will make sense.
