Lower two speed bumps. This measure should ensure that the bus from Hoogeveen to Emmen continues to drive through Noordscheschut. But they are not reduced; they disappear completely. Much to the dissatisfaction of residents of the Coevorderstraatweg, who fear for road safety.
About twenty people gathered this morning along the Coevorderstraatweg just outside Noordscheschut. One of them is Katrien Doldersum, she lives right next to the road with her family. She points to one of the speed bumps that is being removed. “Now the traffic still slows down, but after the speed bump they accelerate quickly and still drive at 80 or 100, while they are only allowed to go 60. It is already dangerous, also because of the many trees along the road that make visibility worse. If the threshold disappears, it really becomes a race track here.”
The public transport agency in Drenthe and Groningen has to make significant cuts. There is a risk of a deficit of 8.2 million euros for next year. This means, among other things, that bus routes will be canceled or adjusted. For example, the transport company is looking into whether bus line 27 from Hoogeveen to Emmen can be adjusted. This runs through Noordscheschut, but there are four speed bumps on the route through the village that cause delays. The bus can take a detour on the A37 and skip Noordscheschut, which would save 60,000 euros annually.
The municipality of Hoogeveen does not want that, because it believes that public transport should remain available to people in the villages. The municipality therefore came up with a plan to lower two speed bumps on the Coevorderstraatweg. They are now completely removed.
Doldersum and its neighbors recently received a letter from the contractor informing them that the thresholds will be removed. A surprise, because the municipality had not said anything about this, she says. According to her, there has been previous consultation about possibly lowering the thresholds, but no final decision has yet been made. “They did not keep us informed.”
The neighborhood thinks it’s a shame, because an appointment with the municipality is still scheduled for October 11. “Officials would come by to view the situation, together we would discuss what could change about the speed bumps. Also to keep traffic safe. Since it is now clear that the two speed bumps will disappear, I don’t really understand why We should still discuss next week.”