Cleaning up the waste that farmers’ activists dumped on the A1 near Voorst (Overijssel) was discontinued on Wednesday afternoon, because the companies that had to clean up the mess were threatened. A spokesperson for Rijkswaterstaat confirms this after reporting from RTV Oost. It is not yet clear when work will resume and how long the road will remain closed.
According to the spokesperson, the contractors have withdrawn after the threats. It is not clear by whom and how. “Together with the safety region, we are now looking for a contractor who can tackle this. We expect to be working on this for hours.” The garbage was dumped on the road in the morning. Among other things, material containing asbestos has to be removed, which requires a specialized company.
The A1 is in the direction of Apeldoorn, close to the Voorst exit, near Deventer. Earlier in the day, one lane was open and traffic was able to drive past the waste. But because waste ended up on the other lane as a result, the road has been completely closed as a precaution, according to Rijkswaterstaat. Traffic can detour via Zwolle on the A35 and A28, advises the ANWB.
On Wednesday morning, straw bales, waste and materials containing asbestos were set alight on several highways. No one had been arrested as of Wednesday afternoon. Earlier in the day, police said it would be “difficult” to track down the arsonists. The police are also following online reports aimed at companies that are helping to clear the mess of the blockades on Wednesday. There may be incitement and that is punishable, according to the police and the Public Prosecution Service.