The municipality of Emmen will convert two intersections in Dordsestraat into priority squares without traffic lights. Thanks to these interventions, cyclists and pedestrians should be able to cross the road safely, without affecting the flow of car traffic. Residents of the adjacent Bargermeer-Meerveld district have reservations about it.
Firstly, it concerns the intersection of the Wilhelminastraat with the Ermerweg and the Bargermeerweg in the Bargermeer district. Secondly, the intersection of Emmalaan with Eerste Bokslootweg near Meerveld will be tackled. Driving through is not an option at the moment. The traffic lights don’t help with that. Just like the fact that straight through traffic sometimes has to wait for turning traffic at the exit at Bargermeer. Resulting in congestion or delays.
The Dordsestraat will therefore be reduced from four lanes to two lanes between the two intersections. Including safe crossings for cyclists and pedestrians.
The intervention also tackles one of the most dangerous bicycle crossings in Emmen. Especially cycling students from Emmen-Zuid to, among others, the Hondsrug College and Drenthe College cross the road at the Dordsedwarsstraat to the Bargermeerweg. The crossing has no traffic lights and that sometimes creates exciting situations. The municipality of Emmen is therefore planning to extend the median strip of the Dordsestraat. To further discourage cyclists, bushes and a hedge will be planted on both sides of the road.
The consequence of extending the median strip is that residents of Bargermeer can only turn right towards Klazienaveen when leaving the district. So if you want to go to the center by car, you have to make a detour via the next planned roundabout at the Eerste Bokslootweg. The municipality is combining the road works with the replacement of the now dated sewer system.
In the new situation, sewage and rainwater are discharged separately. This should prevent flooding during heavy showers. Parts of the road will also be paved and there will be extra greenery on both sides of the road.
However, local residents are not entirely reassured, it appears during the information meeting that took place at Hotel ten Cate on Tuesday. The consequence of extending the central reservation is that residents of Bargermeer can only turn right towards Klazienaveen when leaving the district. For groceries or a visit to the Emmer center you now simply have to make a left turn. But that will soon no longer be possible. “Now residents have to drive all the way to the priority square at the Eerste Bokslootweg and then back to the Noordbargerstraat.”
Arie Oosterwijk, former district chairman, is particularly against this. “These cyclists are the biggest problem. The youth drives from the center on the Bargermeerweg to the McDonalds behind the neighborhood. They cause noise pollution, among other things,” says Oosterwijk. “There is an old cycle path between McDonalds and Bargermeer. We would rather see it disappear. In that case, the cyclists will also stay away. And the median strip does not have to be extended. In that case, we can also just turn left. “
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