The inhabitants of the municipality of Moerdijk are crazy about all the traffic in their streets. Since the Haringvliet Bridge has been closed for a makeover, half of the Netherlands seems to be rushing through roads that are not intended for it. Despite all route signs, traffic rules and concrete blocks, everyone hastily finds their own way to or from the Moerdijk bridge, the only remaining crossing between West Brabant and South Holland.
Take a typical country road like the Achterdijk. Such a street where you can cycle beautifully in good weather. Where residents almost camp with their house on the roadside and the neighborhood strolls a bit on a beautiful summer evening. Greeting each other cheerfully.
Well, forget it. Since the Haringvliet Bridge was closed on Sunday 11 June for renovation, peace has come to an end. Car traffic between West Brabant and South Holland has discovered the shortcut. Now every day a long line of vehicles is stopped in front of the residents’ door. And if it is already running, every driver presses the accelerator to make up for lost time.
“It’s eight weeks of pain.”
The Haringvliet Bridge is 25 kilometers away, but the municipality of Moerdijk is noticing the consequences of the closure. Every day tens of thousands of vehicles look for an alternative route. “It’s been eight weeks of pain,” concludes the alderman. He hopes that it will be a bit quieter during the summer holidays.
Although the A16 and A17 are officially the diversion routes, these highways are jammed every day. As a result, the traffic searches for another catchment area like water. And it criss-crosses the municipality of Moerdijk.
Such as the Driehoefijzerstraat in Zevenbergschen Hoek. Although the municipality has converted the village into an impregnable fortress with route signs, prohibition signs and concrete blocks, this does not deter the more brutal road users. They keep coming. That is why even the cycle path is now littered with concrete blocks.
“Full on the gas and with a short fuse behind the wheel.”
“We had to place additional blocks because motorists drove on via the cycle path. Apparently the fences didn’t work well enough. There are people who don’t care. Overtaking on the wrong side, driving over verges, stepping on the gas and short fuse behind the wheel,” says alderman Danny Dingemans.
He therefore sees only one solution. Immediately swing on the receipt. Dingemans: “If people don’t behave well, we have to be strict.” He has barely spoken the words when a motorist slaloms behind his back on the bike path until she can go no further. “I hadn’t really seen that cordon,” she claims. Then she leaves, car in reverse, looking for a possible passage.
“I would also drive indoors if everything is fixed on the highway.”
The population of Zevenbergschen Hoek is very happy with this resolute action. “It’s wonderfully quiet in our street. Otherwise it’s like a race track and hundreds of people fly down the street. We are satisfied, we also have to make a detour ourselves,” says a local resident.
The neighbor admits honestly: “I would also drive indoors if everything is fixed on the highway. There is one every 15 minutes.”
A road closure such as in Driehoefijzerstraat is not possible everywhere. That is why residents look for solutions themselves. Like on the Achterdijk. The evening strolls have been exchanged for playful protest. All households put their wheelie bins out on the street every day. A row of waste bins, each with a large sticker: 60 km/h. Let’s hope the short fuse understands.
