A footbridge can be in place without yet forming a route. In Belval, that is the distinction to bear in mind after the lift on 28 October: the link intended for pedestrians and cyclists between Belvaux and the future Belvie neighbourhood has reached a construction milestone. That does not mean it is open to the public. For residents, the key will be being able to reach everyday destinations along a continuous route.
What has been installed, and what remains to be completed
According to Le Quotidien’s report, the operation was postponed by four days because of the wind. A 750-tonne crane positioned the structure, which weighed 105 tonnes when it was lifted. The crane’s rated capacity and the weight lifted are therefore two different measurements.
The timetable reported in late October targeted completion on 18 December 2026. Earthworks and connections were due to follow the installation. This construction deadline should not be turned into a guaranteed opening date. The same report says that the municipality of Sanem will then take over management and maintenance.
A link for everyday journeys
In its project presentation, Agora describes a 34-metre steel structure, with a usable width of four metres. The developer places this connection near Um Belval park, Lycée Bel-Val and Kannercampus, with access towards the centre of Belvaux.
This proximity explains the link’s role: integrating the new neighbourhood into its surroundings. A home and a facility may be close on a map without being connected by a practical route. The crossing addresses this question of continuity. However, on its own it does not allow any travel-time saving or reduction in car traffic to be quantified: neither figure is provided in the presentation consulted.
The steel also recalls the site’s iron and steel industry history. For users, the project’s value will be judged above all once the full route is accessible.
Belvie: a neighbourhood in the plans, rather than one already completed
The footbridge, the property developments and the neighbourhood as a whole should be distinguished. The 11 March 2026 press release from Kaufman & Broad and Agora presents Belvie as the new name for Belval Sud, in the municipality of Sanem.
The document announces 684 homes in the long term, alongside services, shops and facilities. Within this development, Kaufman & Broad’s programme comprises 33 apartments for sale. These are two distinct scopes: the 33 apartments are neither all of Belvie nor homes whose completion is established by this announcement.
The partners also plan 33 parking spaces in a mobility hub, with more than half of the neighbourhood’s area devoted to public and landscaped spaces. These features describe their project; they are not an account of usage already observed.
The useful milestone to watch, then, is confirmation that the link and its access routes have been opened. The installation marks a visible achievement. The service provided to pedestrians and cyclists will begin once the connections actually make it possible to use the link.
Archive photograph: Belval in December 2019, before the footbridge was installed. Credit: Zinneke / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
