The Walloon Government announced on Monday, October 12, 2026, the final route for the Hainaut Loop. In response, the Communal Council of the City of Soignies, uniting the majority and opposition, has taken note of this decision. Although the chosen route differs from the initial project, it confirms that Soignies and its villages will remain impacted by this project.
The new route, now coming from Silly instead of Jurbise and Lens, will run along the Walloon backbone before branching off along the N57. It will then run parallel to the chaussée de Lessines towards the northern bypass of Soignies and the economic activity zones of Soignies and Braine-le-Comte, before heading towards Salmonsart and Écaussinnes. This modification might slightly reduce the landscape impact on the Chaussée-Notre-Dame-Louvignies sector, but concerns remain.
'Taking note of a decision does not mean approving it or giving up defending our population's interests,' emphasize the Bourgmestre, Echevins, and group leaders of the Soignies Communal Council. They recall that the concerns of families, farmers, property owners, businesses, and citizens remain. The route also poses risks to the value of real estate.
The position of the City of Soignies is clear: to defend the complete burial of the line within its territory. This demand is an absolute priority. The recognition by the Walloon administration of the need to bury the line for 2.5 kilometers in Thoricourt (part of Silly) demonstrates the feasibility of this solution.
'If burial is recognized as necessary in Thoricourt, we also demand that the line be buried across the entire Sonégien territory,' firmly state the city's representatives. They ask for the same protection standards to be applied to all concerned inhabitants.
On October 13, 2026, the Communal Council therefore asked the Walloon Government and Elia to plan the full burial of the Hainaut Loop across the Sonégien territory and to study landscape integration. The city intends to continue its mobilization.
The Walloon Government must now issue a decree modifying the sector plan, expected by the end of 2026. A public inquiry will follow in early 2027. Construction itself is projected over several months, or even years, after obtaining the urban planning permit.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) addresses potential impacts of electromagnetic fields, noise, vibrations, and health consequences.
Over the past seven years, the Communal Council has adopted 10 motions calling for greater transparency, citizen consultation, serious consideration of environmental, health, and landscape impacts, and in-depth study of alternatives, particularly continuous current burial.
A citizen collective, REVOLHT, has formed around the project. The City of Soignies will continue to inform the public through its official channels. The file is available for consultation at the Urban Planning Service by appointment.
