The municipality of Westerveld closes another bridge at Wittelte because it does not meet the legal requirements. Another four bridges in the municipality are not allowed to be crossed by heavy traffic.
The mayor and aldermen have decided this after an investigation into seven bridges in the municipality. That investigation was done after other bridges in Westerveld had previously proved unsafe. The Koningsschut bridge near Wittelte can no longer be crossed by motorized traffic, a bridge with the same name in the area was also closed in December.
A weight restriction applies to four other bridges. Traffic with a maximum load of 35 tons is allowed to cross the Dwingelderstroom over the bridge on the Dwingelderdijk near Dwingeloo.
You may only cross the Reestweg bridge over the Oude Vaart near Uffelte with a maximum of 30 tonnes and you may only cross the Wapserveense Aa near Wapse via the Wapserveenselandenweg bridge with less than 20 tonnes. The fourth bridge where a weight limit applies (maximum load of 25 tons) is the one on Heuringsweg in Wapse.
The municipality is still working on a maintenance and repair plan for the bridges. To this end, the municipality first wants to be clear about what should be done with the bridges on Osseweidenweg near Havelte and Achterenkamp near Lheebroek. Those bridges have already been rejected. It is being examined whether a maintenance service can prevent the need to replace an entire bridge.