Along the Peelstraat in De Peel, between Erica and Schoonebeek, the construction of a two-sided concrete bicycle path will start at the end of this year. There is currently a cycle path on both sides of the street. The route on the side of the horticulturists disappears.
Alderman René van der Weide (Wakker Emmen) announced the project almost two years ago, but after that there was a delay. There were many objections from the neighbourhood. Road safety would not improve if only one cycle path would remain. School-going children should cross more often, the view of a new crossing would be insufficient due to trees and, according to concerned local residents, the new bicycle path will be too close to the road, where many drive too fast.
The objectors got the short end of the stick. According to the objections committee, the municipality had indeed included the theme of safety in the plans and it could not be established that an incorrect assessment had been made. Some of the protests were declared inadmissible because the petitioners live some distance from the section of road concerned. They are therefore not considered to be an interested party.
Additional consultation
After that it remained silent. “We have waited for the period in which the objectors could still appeal. We then continued with the technical elaboration of the plan,” says a spokeswoman for the municipality. What also took time was additional consultation with the Water Supply Company Drenthe (WMD) and Enexis. “The new bike path is located at water and gas stations and transport pipelines.”
After the summer holidays, the job will be put out to tender, after which, according to the municipality, implementation can start this year.
Due to dry periods, the subsoil of the peat has collapsed, causing subsidence in the cycle paths. On the side of the horticulturists, many tree roots push things up. According to the municipality, it is not possible to get a good cycle path here again, without cutting down the trees or causing irreparable damage. By removing this cycle path and constructing a new two-sided cycle path on the other side of the road, the long row of large trees on the gardeners’ side can remain.
Red crossings
The new cycle path will be extended along the Pannekoekendijk to the built-up area of Erica. In the bend near the Noordersloot, the municipality wants to create a raised crossing point for cyclists, just like in the built-up area of Erica. In comparison with the presented plan, the municipality made two more adjustments. In response to comments from the neighbourhood, there will be more ‘space’ between the carriageway and cycle path and the crossing points at the intersections will also be made red.