E40 / A10

The A10 Autosnelweg, signed mostly as the E40, is probably the most important motorway in Flanders. It connects the capital of Brussels with the North Sea coastal city of Oostende. During the 1950s, Oostende was a major connection point for ferries and freight from the UK. Thus, a motorway from Oostende to Brussels was deemed very important to the national economy. The first section of the E40/A10 to open was between Jabekke and Wetteren (just east of Ghent) in 1954. It was one of the first sections of A-road in Belgium to open. The rest of the route was completed by 1956. Oostende rapidly declined as a hub after the opening of the Channel Tunnel between Dover and Calais, but the road is still regionally important.

 

 Map showing the location of the E40 / A10 through Flanders (click the thumbnail for a larger image)
 
E40 / A10 Westbound
  
On the merge from the R0 Brussels Ring to the E40 westbound, drivers are immediately notified of a parking and rest stop. Rest areas in urban areas are fairly rare, this one seemed quite busy nevertheless.  
The first E40 reassurance shield westbound after leaving Brussels. As is usual, the A-road designation is ommited on all signs except for the kilometer markers.  
Another sign for the upcoming rest area. Lanes that are exit only in Flanders are signed diagrammatically. In Wallonia, a text sign is normally present.  
Rest areas in Flanders specify the services available with large iconical signs. "LPG" is Liquid natural gas, and is found at many service stations throughout Belgium as it is cheaper and relatively common.  
Exit signage normally begins 1500 meters ahead of the exit with a large white sign. Occasionally, two white signs are displayed on each side of the road. This was one of the first sections of motoroway to be completed in Belgium in the late 1950s.  
Areas are signed with brown signs and a monochrome scene. This sign tells us that we are entering Pajottenland. This marks the outermost boundary of French speaking Brussels.  
Instead of the usual white advance sign, the next exit at Ternat is signed with a graphic blue sign. Notice the omission of the number of meters to the exit, and the omission of the N-road number.  
At the exit, an overhead sign is present as opposed to the normal side-road sign. The N-number has arrived on this sign, but the exit number is missing.  
The Belgian penchant for symbolizing almost everything due to the numerous languages spoken there extends to river-signs as well. This standardized sign tells us that we are about to drive over the Dender River. The Dender is especially popular for it's bankside cycling routes.  
The next exit is for the town of Aalst. The town, famous for it's February Carnival, dates from the 9th century.  
The exit for Aalst features, as many exits in Belgium do, four control points. Evidently it is not too much for drivers to handle (many countries only allow two). The 800 meter exit sign on the left side of the road is rare in Flanders, but still standard.  
High mast lighting is present on almost every motoroway in Belgium. Through Aalst, the lights feature double pronged tops. With 80,000 inhabitants, Aalst is the largest town on the E40 between Brussels and Ghent.  
An overhead assembly for the Aalst exit, which is actually two exits lumped together. Exiting here will allow drivers to select the N45 as noted, but also the R41 ring road. It is surprising that the R-road is omitted here as it bypasses the city centre and provides for easier access Dendermonde.  
Another view of the Aalst exit, at the gore point. Exits in Belgium have various gore point setups, mostly with a red heavy divider in the center. Green gore point setups are more common in Wallonia.  
A few of the E40 on a cold winter day, the road is fairly flat and straight but curves as it bypasses Aalst. The 3 lanes are separated by a median divider (a jersey barrier) with occassional plants.  
 The next exit serves the hamlet of Erpe-Mere.  
Exit number 18 for Erpe-Mere is signed with an overhead sign, and includes the N46 route designation. The N46 runs south and west and eventually ends at Oudenaarde.  
"Uitrit" is the Flemish word for exit. This sign is the first warning of an approaching parking area. The black and white politie sign in the back also points drivers to a regional police station.  
The exit for the parking and rest area. Note the lack of shoulder under the bridge. The road was probably widened without replacing the bridges, leaving almost no room for error going under them.  
Going through the parking area, the 800m diagrammatical sign relays the exit for Zottegem. This is the second Zottegem exit, and the advance signage uses only 2 (instead of 3 or 4) control points.  
More advance signage for the second Zottegem exit, this one interchange lists Wetteren, must closer to the road, as the control point.  
Exit 17, serving Zottegem and Wetteren.  
This interchange features several variable message signs, which can be used to warn drivers of traffic jams or construction ahead.  
Exit 17 is a roundabout built over the freeway, meaning that there are two bridges built in an arc. The secondary arched bridge to the west of the interchange serves pedestrian traffic.  
The next exit is for the R4, Ghent's ring road and (mostly) freeway loop.  
This exit features standard Belgian Motoway-to-Motorway signage. With a symbol of two limited access roads underscored with the name of the interchange. This is the Merelbeke interchange, named for the village just to the southwest.  
The A10 westbound at the R4. The interchange consists of a trumpet, as many freeway ends in Belgium are apt to be. The R4 forms a partial loop to the east of the large city of Ghent, and connects with the E17 to Antwerp. The A10 begins is journey across the southern side of Ghent here, a city of about 250,000.  
The next interchange is also limited access, and is called Zwijnaarde after the nearby village and industrial park.  
Zwijnaarde is the largest motorway interchange in the Ghent area, and serves the two major roads that bisect the city. While the E17 is also called the A14, it is not noted on the sign. This 1500 meter sign notes the French city of Lille as a control point, as well as the numbered harbors of Ghent.  
The older 800 meter sign omits Lille and the harbors as control points, and has a slightly different diagram. Belgium often adds numerous control points to newer signs.  
The E40 westbound at the E17 near Ghent. High mast lighting is liberally used here, and the interchange is fairly large.  
 The next westbound interchange continues with Ghent. The N43 is a long road that runs southwest from Ghent all the way to the French border near Lille. The R4 ring road around Ghent also comes back to the E40 here, at least nearby.  
 The exit tab is placed here before the actual exit, on a gantry that is used to warn drivers of obstructions ahead. This is the older style that has been replaced with actual larger variable message signs.  
 The E40 westbound in Ghent at the N43/R4 exit. This is a fairly complicated and large interchange. Not shown on signs, but a small spur called the B402 connects to the R4 north of here. The B402 and R4 through here were supposed to be motorways, but were scaled back - hence the large interchange.  
 Another message gantry, complete with time and temperature. Yes, Belgium can get cold.  
 A reassurance sign as the E40 leaves the Ghent area for points west. The orange diamond atop the sign signifies that this road receives priority over all others in terms of yielding and giving way to other traffic. Not really necessary on a motorway, but posted nonetheless.  
 The next exit is the last one in the Ghent area, the N466, and serves mainly the town of Drongen and a few suburbs. Drongen is perhaps best known for it's large rest stop along the road.  
 The white exit number marking for the Drongen exit, posted at the merge lane from the large Drongen rest stop.  
 The exit for the N466. Drongen as a control point as completely dissapeared and has been replaced by Deinze. At least we get an exit number here.  
A typical mileage sign, with three cities listed. It's only 51 kilometers to Oostende on the coast, and the end of the A10 (but not the E40).  
The next westbound exit serves the municipality of Nevele, in rural Flanders. This region gets a lot of tourism in the summer for it's biking opportunities.  
Further west, the next major interchange is at the town of Aalter, and the N44.  
Belgium's major direct North Sea port (after the protected ports at Antwerp and Ghent) is Zeebrugge. Built after the city of Brugge's river silted up to provide access to the sea, Zeebrugge was the site of the "Herald of Free Enterprise" disaster of 1987.  
The N44 is omitted from the 800m sign here, but Knokke-Heist is added as a control point. Knokke is Belgium's wealthy seaside resort town.  
Before the interchange, a very long merge lane is provided. During rush periods and especially on nice summer weekends, this lane can stack up with people going to the coast for holidays.  
The N44 designation is again omitted in favor of more control points. Knokke-Heist is given top billing as it is a major tourist destination. The E40 continues westbound from here to end in Calais, France.  
   
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