The steel tied arch railway bridge at Louvain was built to carry two new tracks between the cities of Brussels and Louvain, as part of the upgrading of this railway line to allow a train speed of 200 km/h. Initially this line was a two-track connection. For about 16 km the existing tracks are upgraded in speed and two lateral tracks have been added. This required the rebuilding or modernising of around 50 bridges.

Some 5 km before Louvain station, the central tracks have been placed in a cut-and-cover tunnel and pass below one lateral track. From this point, the central tracks must climb to cross the canal from Mechelen to Louvain. The lateral tracks continue on the initial location and there is a major curve which allows a train speed of only 90 km/h. The new tracks have been placed on a lesser curve, at the crossing with the canal and will allow an increase of train speed to 120 km/h.