The Velsertunnel will be closed to all traffic this weekend. To keep the oldest tunnel in the Netherlands safe, all systems are tested. Diversion routes have been indicated, but Rijkswaterstaat expects traffic disruption, especially during the day. Early Monday morning the suffering is over and the tunnel will reopen in both directions.
Velser tunnel closed all weekend due to maintenance – NH News
It is a lot to ask of motorists in the IJmond, admits Harold Hansen of Rijkswaterstaat. Because you may wonder whether it is a good idea to give the Velsertunnel a maintenance check if there is already a nuisance caused by the work on the Velsertraverse.
“We have calculated whether the work on the tunnel would cause many additional problems and that seems to be not too bad,” says Hansen, who monitors the consequences of the work for the region on behalf of Rijkswaterstaat.
Based on models, the government has chosen to let the pain be brief but intense. “After that, the road user will not be bothered by us for a long time,” says Hansen.
“Call it short but intense and we will only get rid of it in one go”
Rijkswaterstaat cannot rule out delays on the highways in the IJmond this weekend as a result of the work on the tunnel. In a video message calls Rijkswaterstaat to account for additional travel time. From IJmuiden or Haarlem Noord, the advice is to drive back to Rottepolderplein. From there, take the A22 and the Wijkertunnel to the north of North Holland. Disruption is expected on this route between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. due to the large number of people on their way to the Beverwijkse Bazaar.
Traffic from the south on its way to IJmuiden and the surrounding area is advised to use the calamity arch.
The Velsertunnel will reopen in both directions on Monday morning at 05:00.