The Overcingeltunnel in Assen will open earlier than planned on Wednesday around midnight. According to BAM’s chief foreman Dennis Herder, the work went well and the tunnel can now be reopened. The planned date was June 19.
After only seven years, the tunnel turned out to be as leaky as a basket and had to be taken care of by BAM, which has been responsible for the maintenance of the tunnel for twenty years. Chief executor Dennis Herder of BAM looks back on an intensive project: “We had to repair 800 meters of cracks in the ceiling and walls. Seven years after the opening of the tunnel, this is already quite an intensive project.”
But according to Herder, things went better than expected. “We put more people to work, so the last week was no longer necessary anyway. So today and tomorrow we can complete the last things.”
If all goes well, it will now take a little longer than seven years before new work is required. “We have committed additional money and resources to ensure that no maintenance is required for the next 15 years.
Herder says that there will be no official moment at the reopening. “The project is quite sensitive to the environment, BAM and the municipality. There will only be a delivery moment to the municipality.” Local residents will receive a card. “We will send a card as a thank you for their patience.”
The early opening does not come as a surprise for the municipality of Assen. “We were regularly kept informed during the work and had built in some margin in the planning,” says Eric Bloembergen of the municipality of Assen.
“There is still work to be done today and tomorrow, such as clearing the traffic signs, but we expect the tunnel to be completely open again tomorrow after rush hour,” Bloembergen concludes.