For years, a huge puddle of water has appeared in winter at the end of the Heerenduinweg, where the road makes a T-junction with IJmuiderslag. This year that puddle is bigger than ever. Cyclists and cars no longer dare to cross the intersection. A little further away is the beach bar Beach Inn and owner Didier de Bie fears that the lake will cost him guests. He is looking for a solution, which does not seem to be available for the time being.
The Heerenduinweg towards the Kennemerstrand of IJmuiden slopes slightly and slopes downwards at the end. “It is the lowest point in IJmuiden,” says De Bie.
And it shows: every winter, a large puddle of water forms right across the motorway and the cycle path.
“But this year the puddle of water was there earlier than usual, at the end of summer,” an IJmuiden resident who walks there almost every day remembers. Her gray curls blow in the wind. Not only that, “It’s also much bigger than normal.”
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De Bie notices that too. “It has been raining a lot more lately than normal around this time.”
This is noticeable in his beach bar, De Beach Inn. To get there, motorists and cyclists have to pass the water ballet at the Heerenduinweg-IJmuiderslag T-junction. They park their car at the IJmuiderslag and via a winding road they reach the cozy beach bar, which is open all year round.
De Bie: “When it rains, it is certainly less busy. But some of the visitors no longer dare to cross the intersection. They turn the car there and go to another tent.”
The municipality recognizes the problem
Last week he sat down with the municipality of Velsen. He would like something to happen, because the point is now also very dangerous, says De Bie. Especially for motorists: “If you go through the puddle at a little too much speed, you won’t see anything because of the splashing water.”
The municipality recognizes the problem, which has been going on for years. She tries to think about solutions, De Bie notes.
For example, the road has already been adapted in a number of points. Pumping out the water wouldn’t be that easy.
According to the beach bar owner, another solution has been mentioned: “A pipe could be drawn from the intersection to one of the waters nearby.”
But there would also be a problem with that, he knows: “It is a Natura 2000 area… Maybe it would be better if they raised the asphalt on the Heerenduinweg a bit,” he suggests.
For the time being, cyclists and motorists have to make do with orange-white cones that De Bie himself has placed along the lake. “I hope that will help a little to guide people across the intersection.”
A more detailed response from the municipality will follow later in the morning.