News item | 19-09-2023 | 3:30 PM
The 2024 budget of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW), just like the household budget of many people at home, is all about making choices. Rising prices make projects more expensive and cause shortages. Minister Harbers and State Secretary Heijnen are therefore, partly out of necessity, focusing on major maintenance of our roads, railways, waterworks and waterways. So that everyone can enjoy going to work, friends or family; we remain safe and our infrastructure will remain a strong basis for the Dutch economy in the coming decades.
Focus on maintenance and renovation
I&W’s 2024 budget totals almost €15 billion. Of this, almost €1.7 billion goes to water works, such as dikes, weirs and barriers. Work on this will continue in the coming years, and that is important to keep the Netherlands safe in the changing climate with rising sea levels and heavy rain showers.
Nearly €10 billion will be spent on work on our roads, railways and waterways. Almost half of this goes to maintenance and renovation: €4.6 billion. This amount will remain high in the coming years. This is necessary: many of our bridges and viaducts, both on the railway and on the road, were built in the period after the Second World War. These are in need of a major overhaul, partly due to heavy and intensive use. In 2024, for example, major maintenance will take place on the Heinenoord tunnel, the IJssel bridges and the railway near Amsterdam, Leeuwarden and Kijfhoek. Minister Harbers previously announced that part of the budget for the construction of roads, mainly for major maintenance.
Minister Harbers: “Due to rising construction prices, nitrogen problems and tightness on the labor market, we will not be able to build much in the coming years. We do not want to leave the money for these projects in the piggy bank and are spending it on the much-needed major maintenance of our roads, bridges and viaducts. We are proud of our roads and bridges that make our water-rich country easily accessible. Good accessibility is important for every Dutch person; it takes you to work and school, to family, it ensures that the parcel deliverer arrives on time and the groceries arrive at the supermarket. Good infrastructure is a prerequisite for the way we live in the Netherlands.”
Shortages
Just as everyone notices that life is becoming increasingly expensive, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is also affected by rising prices. Financial shortages have arisen due to rising construction costs, and there are staff shortages and nitrogen problems. For these three reasons, Minister Harbers decided earlier this year to temporarily pause 17 construction projects and to use the money and manpower that were released to fill the shortages in maintenance and construction projects that can continue. Not an easy decision, because the paused projects remain important for the accessibility of the Netherlands. When space becomes available again, the paused projects will be restarted.
Financial statement
All ministries have a financial task. I&W has allocated €150 million per year to the mobility fund until 2036. This means that IenW can invest a total of almost € 2 billion less in roads, rail and waterways during this period.
Minister Harbers and State Secretary Heijnen have weighed up various options to fulfill this task. They do not want to tamper with management and maintenance projects, not with projects that are (almost) in progress, not with the budget from the coalition agreement to make housing accessible, nor with the reservation for the Lely Line. That is why they ultimately decided to largely remove the reservation for the extension of the Amsterdam-Haarlemmermeer public transport connection, better known as the extension of the North/South line, for the time being. Work on the project is continuing, on the way to a preference decision in 2025.
State Secretary Heijnen: “Millions of people work and live in the Amsterdam metropolitan region, and the roads and public transport are often extremely full. The extension of the North/South line will create more space on the track, and that is important for train traffic throughout the Netherlands. That is why it was a difficult decision to remove a large part of the reservation for this project. The project is now in the Exploratory Phase and this means that a lot of research is still needed in the coming years before the shovel can be broken into the ground. That will continue without delay.”
Investing in a clean living environment
Numerous investments will continue where possible in the coming years. This applies, for example, to measures to work on a cleaner living environment and the climate. Minister Harbers is allocating an additional €40 million to install power points for ships. Once constructed, they can then use shore power from the quay instead of their diesel engine.
State Secretary Heijnen will allocate almost €30 million in 2024 for more and smarter charging stations, both for trucks and passenger cars. She is putting forward money for entrepreneurs who want to switch to a clean construction machine or truck: €27 million for electric trucks and €6 million for clean construction machines. The subsidy schemes for this were so popular last year that many good plans from Dutch entrepreneurs were in danger of being rejected. With the extra financial space, more than 750 electric trucks are now on the road. The government is literally and figuratively helping the transport and construction sectors move forward, and it reduces nitrogen and greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition to the air, the cabinet also wants the water to become cleaner. That is why I&W will invest €211 million in clean water next year. Clean water is important, both for our nature and our drinking water. And to achieve the European goals.
The circular economy is continuing to take shape. In 2024, the budget is €82.4 million, so that more and more items and materials are given a new, useful purpose at the end of their lifespan. Towards a fully circular economy in 2050.