Truck Strikes Pedestrian Bridge in Jette, Brussels

A truck collided with the Jeanne Partousbrug, a pedestrian and cyclist bridge in Jette, Brussels, on Monday morning, causing damage to the vehicle and forcing the closure of the crossing. No injuries were reported in the incident, which occurred in the Eugène Toussaintstraat near Atelier 34zero, according to VRT NWS.

Missing Height Signage a Key Factor

The collision highlights a notable infrastructure gap: on the side of the bridge where the truck struck, there is no traffic sign indicating the maximum height of the bridge. According to VRT NWS, the truck driver presumably believed his vehicle would fit under the bridge, which turned out not to be the case. The material on the truck’s open trailer did not clear the bridge structure.

Bridge Closed for Assessment

Pedestrians were initially allowed through on one side of the sidewalk, but later that morning, the pedestrian and bicycle bridge was fully closed. A contractor arrived at the scene to assess potential damage to the structure.

The Jeanne Partousbrug spans the Eugène Toussaintstraat and connects the two parts of the Rivierendreef, providing a safe crossing between Jette and Ganshoren. The bridge was installed in February 2023 and officially inaugurated on September 26, 2023, as BRUZZ reported. Named after Jeanne Partous, the first female alderman of Jette (1946), the structure was designed by the Brussels firm Árter and features a wooden passerelle construction.

The bridge was part of a broader renovation of the Eugène Toussaintstraat, a major north-south axis in Jette. In 2022, the street underwent significant works to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, including redesigned road surfaces, a new MIVB bus stop, safer intersections, and wider footpaths, as BRUZZ detailed.

A Recurring Problem in Brussels

This is not the first time a truck has collided with a bridge at this location. In March 2019, a truck with a trailer got stuck under the railway bridge on the same street, requiring firefighters and police to free the vehicle. The bridge structure was potentially damaged, and railway traffic was suspended for the afternoon while Infrabel examined the stability of the bridge, as BX1 reported.

Trucks hitting bridges is a recurring issue across Brussels. In June 2026, a truck drove against the bridge for train and metro traffic on the Gentsesteenweg in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, near metro station Ossegem. The truck was too high to pass under the bridge, causing metro and train traffic to be interrupted for about 1.5 hours while the bridge was checked for stability, according to BRUZZ.

Safety Implications and Outlook

The incident raises significant questions about bridge safety and signage in Brussels. The absence of height restriction signage on the side of the bridge where the truck struck is a preventable factor that likely contributed to the accident. The Jeanne Partousbrug, a relatively new structure designed specifically for pedestrians and cyclists, now requires a thorough structural assessment to determine the extent of any damage.

The closure of the bridge affects pedestrians and cyclists who rely on this important connection between Jette and Ganshoren, including access to Jette station, the local library, and the Koning Boudewijnpark.

As authorities assess the damage, key questions remain: How extensive is the structural damage to the bridge? How long will the crossing remain closed? And will height restriction signage be installed to prevent similar incidents in the future? The answers will be crucial for ensuring the safety of this vital pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure in Brussels.