A parallel road next to the provincial road (N240) should prevent the nuisance caused by agricultural traffic in Opperdoes. That is the outcome of a consultation between the province of North Holland and the Opperdoes Village Council.
The consultations between the province and the Village Council were constructive, it is said. Local residents have been complaining about the increasing nuisance for some time. In order to map the number of traffic movements, a conducted a survey in June last year. This was completed by about 35 entrepreneurs and farmers. This shows that on an annual basis more than 7,500 traffic movements with agricultural vehicles take place through Opperdoes and Medemblik.
The result of the survey was shared with the municipality of Medemblik and the province. Only a meeting still had to take place, where these bottlenecks were discussed. Last Wednesday it was time. LTO Noord also joined.
“The plan to extend a parallel road from the Bolzijl to the Koggenrandweg can reduce the nuisance caused by agricultural traffic,” thinks Piet Boersma, chairman of the Village Council.
He is hopeful that the province will now really take it up. Because this plan was already on the table before. “We have clearly indicated that something really needs to be done now. The roads are narrow and tractors are becoming wider and heavier, and are allowed to drive faster. And that entails unsafe situations.”
Too dangerous
There was also talk of a temporary admission of agricultural traffic on the provincial road (N240). But the province sees no benefit in that. According to Bram Derix, policy advisor at the province, because otherwise it would be too dangerous.
“The difference in speed is too high. Tractors are allowed to drive at a maximum speed of 40 kilometers per hour. There is also an overtaking ban and the chance that motorists become impatient and overtake is simply too great. Due to the many bends, the view is poor, which means that frontal collisions can occur. It cannot be that we are going to make the center safer, but not the provincial road.”
The province is expected to start construction of this parallel road in 2026/2027. Until then, solutions to reduce traffic in Opperdoes are still being looked at.