Part of one of the main traffic arteries along the center of Assen will be closed for five months from February 9. Almost eight years after its opening, the Overcingel tunnel, which directs traffic under Stationsplein, needs a major overhaul.
Falling facade panels, leaks and hairline cracks in tunnel walls and the deck. Since the opening of the tunnel in 2018, there have been regular defects, which have always been resolved. But now the municipality, together with builder BAM, has opted for large-scale work on the tunnel. “If we do not repair it now, the defects could have consequences for safety in the long term. By intervening now, we prevent bigger problems later,” says councilor Martin Rasker (VVD).
The Overcingeltunnel is part of the FlorijnAs. About fifteen years ago, work began on making Assen more accessible by car, train, bicycle and boat for 200 million euros. The Channel was made navigable again, an extra exit from the A28 to the TT Circuit was added and the city got a new station. The money for this at the time largely came from the government, as compensation for the cancellation of the Zuiderzee line.
The tunnel was also built with this money by contractor BAM. It ensures that Stationsplein is largely car-free and train passengers can safely walk or cycle to the center. At the same time, traffic can flow smoothly from north to south and vice versa.
The costs for the repair work are borne by the contractor. When the construction contract was concluded, agreements were made about the maintenance of the tunnel and warranty. The municipality and BAM have jointly drawn up a recovery plan here.
Temporarily closing the tunnel will cause traffic problems. Alderman Rasker realizes this. “We understand that these works cause extra travel time and inconvenience, which is very annoying.”
According to the municipality, the station will remain easily accessible. The station square will be closed to cars and other motorized traffic. That is why there will be a temporary kiss & ride on the Overcingellaan on the north side. The current kiss & ride is only accessible from the south side. Buses, taxis and emergency services are allowed to drive through the square. Pedestrians and cyclists can also pass by.