E25 / A602

The 4 kms of the A602 are some of the most interesting in Belgium. The terrain is very hilly, and includes several deep valleys. In addition, the road cuts through the center of Liège, the largest city in eastern Belgium. The road includes a cable-stayed bridge and two large tunnels, it opened on June 7, 2000.

The pont haubané sur la Meuse, soon after opening. The bridge is sandwiched between two mountain tunnels. Photo Courtesy Routes Wallonie (click the thumbnail for a larger image)
Map showing the location of the E25 / A602 through Wallonia (click the thumbnail for a larger image)
 
E25 / A602 Southbound
  
This view looks southbound just after the E40 junction. "Speed Control next 10 km" - this stretch of autoroute is very windy and there are numerous speed control devices and variable warning signs.  
This diagrammatical sign is the first of many warning high loads of a 4 meter height restriction ahead. All loads over 4 meters must exit at No. 33.  
Another diagrammatical sign, and the first control sign for the city center of Liège, population about 400,000.  
Another warning, that all loads over 4 meters must exit in 600 meters.  
The first of many overhead assemblies appears, warning drivers of any obstructions of the lanes ahead. Luckily traffic on this rainy day is light, this stretch of the A602 gets about 75,000 cars per day.  
"Suivre" is French for follow, this auxilliary sign lists local attractions and control points. These signs are standard in the French speaking portion of Belgium.
 
This variable sign drops the speed limit from 100 kph to 90, at times it can go down to 70.  
Exit 33, formerly the end of the road, dumps traffic into the center of Liège. On this sign, control points are listed in white boxes while the control point of Luxembourg is listed in white text. The left lanes have red and white 4 meter "reminders" for trucks.  
Another lane control device overhead, and more variable speed limit signs.  
This bridge at exit 33 features more 4 meter strips. If a truck or heavy load hits them, they will do no damage but will make a very loud scraping noise.  
Before exit 35, the speed limit drops another 10 kph to 80. The autoroute is very close-in here, with low hills and trees to each side.  
Coming around a bend, with yet another overhead lane control system, the valley of Liège opens to a splendid view of the Ardennes and the city.  
Luxembourg is the control point for the E25, as in many parts of Belgium, the "A" designation is ignored on signs. The TGV station, a major destination, is listed in the white box as a control point. All signs to the side of the road can change to tell drivers to exit instead of going further ahead.  
Road designations dissapear completely from these signs. Wallonia is much less apt to sign road numbers than Flanders is, on overhead signs.  
The right lane exits to the suburbs of Avroy and Laveu and a short viaduct section begins. The autoroute offers spectacular view of Liège and the surrounding area.  
After the Avroy exit, sound walls appear on either side of the road. Variable speed limits for cars and trucks appear on the variable signs. The city still looms ahead.  
This assembly appears a bit deceiving, but the "Site Comptage" on the left gives it's true purpose away. Cameras to either side of the road record the speed of the car in each lane and photograph and issue tickets automatically to speeders. There are 210 cameras, not all for speeders, along the route.  
The entrance to the Tunnel de Cointe appears ahead just after the exit for the TGV station. The cranes to the left are construction Liège's new station, designed by famed architect Santiago Calatrava.  
The entrance to the Cointe Tunnel heading southbound. The 1600 meter tunnel connects the north and south sides of the city of Liège. The roof of the north entrance is topped with a suspension arch pedestrian bridge. The design features similarities to the new TGV station being constructed only a few meters away.  
Immediately upon exiting the rather long tunnel the pont haubané sur la Meuse appears. This cable stayed bridge goes over the steep Meuse valley below. Sound walls only briefly inhibit the view.  
Another view on the bridge. Headed southbound, the city of Liège fills the valley to the left. Liège is noted in history for being completely destroyed in 1468, and for an up-and-down coal mining based economy. "The Pittsburgh of Europe", if you will.  
At the crest of the bridge, another tunnel immediately appears. The bridge is built in a steep valley and the two tunnels are to each side.  
Headed into the shorter, southern tunnel southbound. Variable speed limit signs still keep traffic at a modest 80 kph and large trucks and buses at only 60 kph.  
Upon exiting the southern tunnel, the A602 begins a series of very sharp 90 degree turns and curves, and wild elevation changes as it continues south towards Luxembourg. Traffic comes to a crawl as it winds through the southern suburbs of Liège.  
Remaining at a slow 80 kph, the Ardennes loom beyond. The Ardenne "Hills" (I'd call them mountains, really) were the scene of intense fighting in both world wars. That a motorway was connected through them only in the 1990s and completed in 2000 speaks volumes for their remote nature.  
The road makes yet another sharp right hand turn and dip going through a mostly industrial section of the city. Liège is known as being a coal mining center and shipping point. Many businesses on each side of the road are of that genre.  
The road levels out and meets exit 39. At this point the new road meets the old road, which has been around for about a decade. At this exit the A602 becomes the A26, which makes almost no difference as the entire route is signed as E25.  
The E25 passes over the Ourthe River in a viaduct that is best appreciated from below. Luxembourg is still the control point but Bastogne and Spa, a huge tourist area, have been added. The exit signage reverts to standard rural motorway signage here  
Exit 39 was rebuilt along with the A602 in late 1999 / 2000. The road is sunken through the interchange, with large aluminum soundwalls on each side.  
The next exit features another white box, for Sart-Tilman hostpial which is part of the large University of Liège.  
Before the Sart-Tilman exit, the Ardennes begin and the road begins to climb. A very long acceleration lane is provided due to the grade.  
The N633 marks the last exit in the Liège metropolitan area. Exiting here, the motorist would continue due south through the Ardennes.  
The E25 climbs again, this time two extra lanes are provided for slow moving vehicles. The Ardennes to the left, with a huge valley off to the right of the road headed southbound.  
A non-standard overhead exit sign simply listing the road designation without diagrammatical content is provided at the Beaufays exit. South of this point, the E25 returns to a windy 2 lanes and on to Bastogne and Luxembourg.  
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