With the start of the 100th anniversary commemorations of the First World War in Ieper in 2014, there has been a large increase in the number of visitors to the city and the front region. The effects of this have already been felt at the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. In view of this, the city administration, the Last Post Associateion and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission have developed a plan to better control the flow of traffic and optimize the safety of the public at the Menin Gate.
From now on, no traffic will be allowed under the Menin Gate between 19-30 hrs and 20-30 hrs. The road will be closed and traffic directed to alternative routes. Between 19-30 hrs and 20-00 hrs, duty officers on the city side of the memorial will also stop traffic emerging from the Bollingstraat whenever a musical group or military detachment is marching to the Menin Gate from the Market Square. Traffic emerging from the Bollingstraat will also be stopped from 20-00 hrs until the end of the Last Post Ceremony so that proceedings are not disturbed.
At present there is only one location for coach drivers to drop off and collect passengers in the city centre, at Vandenpeereboomplein. From the 1st April 2014, a second drop off and collection point will be available on Hoornwerk, close to Menin Gate.