From the spring onwards, there is a risk of suffering on the A7 all summer long. The bridge over the North Holland Canal near Purmerend needs to be strengthened, which means heavy traffic jams. “Then all hell breaks out here in West Friesland,” says the voice at the carpool place near Hoorn. The CDA asks parliamentary questions.
At the Leekerlanden carpool spot at the entrance to the A7 near Hoorn, many motorists already know what awaits them next spring. “That will probably involve more traveling by train. I just have to be in Zaandam for work on time,” a woman responds.
“Don’t talk to me about it,” says Eric Steltenpool. He has a transport company on the Agriport business park and two branches in Westzaan. “About forty people work there, who take the A7 every day. Do they get to work on time? Do they get home on time? Do they have to leave early?” He has many questions.
The 35 cars of his transport company also take the route almost every day. It has been allowed since October last year no heavy freight traffic more about the bridge. Steltenpool: “They now all go via the Middenbeemster. If you have an extra half hour to an hour of travel time, the cost increases enormously. No one is going to cut corners, for us. So they have to think of something. A bridge next to it?”
Long detour
Jack Kranenburg, commercial director of the Agriport A7 business park, also hopes for alternatives. The A7 is very important for the accessibility of the business park. “Without traffic jams, a detour takes half an hour. But I don’t think it is possible without traffic jams. A driver is only allowed to drive for a certain number of hours. On an eight-hour day, productivity drops considerably.”
The Agriport business park falls under the municipality of Hollands Kroon. They know the plans but are not concerned. “These activities are far outside our municipality. We assume that Rijkswaterstaat has discussed this with the surrounding municipalities.”
‘Falling through the bridge is also not desirable’
One thing is clear; the viaduct must become safe again. “That will require getting up earlier. But it has to be done, right? The A7 must remain accessible, so we have to sacrifice something for that,” says a man at the carpool spot in Hoorn. Jack Kranenburg thinks that the plans can be feasible. “The situation is undesirable, but falling through the bridge is also not desirable. It has to happen. We also have to face the facts.”
Already one year ago it becomes clear that the bridge urgently needs to be strengthened. Rijkswaterstaat now faces this urgent task. A labor-intensive job that will start in the spring. The recovery will start in March 2024. The work will be carried out in two phases of four months and will last until the beginning of October, writes the municipality of Hoorn by mail.
One lane closed at all times
During the work, traffic can continue to drive over the bridge, but one lane will be closed per phase. On the other carriageway there are two narrowed lanes in each direction, where a speed limit applies. Various entrances and exits at Purmerend will also be closed. The diversions will also make surrounding roads very busy.
The municipality of Hoorn and Koggenland are in discussions with a consultancy firm to map out the consequences for traffic north of Purmerend. And to discuss possible measures. They point out that employers in North Holland can receive tailor-made traffic advice for free in the run-up to the coming crowds.
Many questions
The closure is causing a lot of controversy. CDA MP Harmen Krul states a long list of questions to the House of Representatives, about the consequences for traffic. “How do you view the fact that there will be non-stop traffic jams on the A7 for almost eight months?” Krul wants to know.
And also whether the consequences of each measure and closure taken have been mapped out for traffic flow, economic damage, cut-through traffic, nuisance on other roads, influence on the quality of life and response times of emergency services. Finally, Krul wants to know why the alternative plan, repairing from the bottom of the bridge, is no longer an option and what objections there are.
Rijkswaterstaat says that it cannot yet respond to questions about the A7 near Purmerend, and that it will first answer the parliamentary questions that have been asked.
At the carpool in Hoorn, motorists realize what the work means for them: