The patience of the people living near the western ring road of Alkmaar has been severely tested, but the first piles of the long-desired noise barrier will be driven into the ground a little later than planned. It’s the second weekend in March.
There is at least 17 years on measures against traffic noise waited. The municipality ultimately opted for a special screen with solar panels that supplies power for 400 households.
Delayed again
The noise barrier was scheduled to be delivered next summer, but has now been pushed back to October. This is because additional soil research was required: the soil did not have the same carrying capacity everywhere. As a result, the foundation had to be adjusted, which required extra time.
It spacious seven million costly project has been plagued by delays and higher costs several times in recent years. But in November the preparatory work along the N245 and N508 finally started. Something that has not gone unnoticed by the local residents.
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The old noise barrier has been removed, the trees have been felled and the ground has been prepared for construction. “And that is noticeable,” says Ed Diepenmaat of the Belangen Bewonersgroep Geluidwal (BBG). “My house is ten meters from the road and the traffic noise has increased enormously now that the old rampart has been removed.”
Deep breath
The new screen should finally give residents of the Huiswaarderweg, Schagerweg and Nollenweg a good night’s sleep. However, the fact that it has now been delayed again does not worry them. “On behalf of the BBG, we have been working on this for a long time. It is apparently a ‘long-term project’, but the most important decisions have been made and the contractor is at work.”
“So we are not worried about a bit of construction delay. Although it did raise some questions when the work suddenly came to a standstill at the beginning of this year. But we are relieved and happy that the piles will be driven into the ground in just over two weeks.”