Residents on the Coevorderstraatweg in Noordscheschut are disappointed that the municipality of Hoogeveen, without consultation, is removing two speed bumps on the road that is often subject to heavy traffic and has a poor safety score.
Every time resident Katrien Doldersum wants to drive onto Coevorderstraat by car, she is relieved when she succeeds without any problems.
“It’s gambling. You really don’t see anything,” she says. “The row of trees along the road works like a fence. You have to stand with the nose of the car on the road. I often have to put the car back in reverse. I’m really afraid that something will go wrong at some point. Road safety is really at stake.”
Dangerous business
From the municipal traffic safety report (BLIQ) up to and including 2021, the Coevorderstraatweg, which connects Noordscheschut with Geesbrug, scores high when it comes to the number of accidents and high speed. It is also a precarious matter for cyclists and school children to be able to cross safely.
Doldersum has been drawing attention to the traffic situation for four years. The residents would like two extra speed bumps in the road to reduce the speed of traffic. “Cars sometimes drive at 80 to 100 km/h and slam on the brakes just before a speed bump.”
No view
Doldersum also asks for the removal of a few trees that block her view of the road. “Those trees were planted a long time ago, when the traffic and living situation was completely different.” She argues for compensation for the trees elsewhere. “In a place where they do not hinder road safety.”
To date, these efforts have been unsuccessful. In fact, on Monday a letter from contractor NTP suddenly appeared at more than twenty addresses, stating that two speed bumps that were installed in April last year will be removed on October 17. It must ensure that the regional buses continue to run there.
Bus line 27
Bus drivers suffer a lot from the obstacles on the 60 km road. They cannot be taken at this speed without almost being launched. The transport company threatened to divert the bus line between Hoogeveen and Emmen, which runs through Noordscheschut, over the A37.
But the municipality does not want that. The Groningen-Drenthe public transport agency then demanded that two of the five thresholds must be removed before December 1. “We understand those drivers,” says Katrien Doldersum. “Even with the car you sometimes bounce your head against the roof. Those thresholds were simply set too high last year.” But instead of lowering, the thresholds are now being removed completely.
‘Not taken seriously’
However, there is more going on. The residents do not feel heard by the municipality. Both the construction of the speed bumps in 2022 and the removal of the obstacles came out of the blue for them. “We knew nothing,” says Doldersum. “Then you’re not taking us seriously.”
The neighborhood wants the municipality to postpone the work and first sit down with the residents to discuss alternatives. Such as the construction of bus speed bumps: specific traffic calmers for car traffic that are hardly affected by buses.
Overtaking ban?
Other options include the construction of a passing lane or the introduction of section control or an overtaking ban, as has also been introduced on the Riegshoogtendijk. “And look seriously at the possibility of removing trees.”
The SGP asked questions about the issue in the municipal council on Thursday evening. Party chairman Brand van Rijn wanted to know, among other things, why residents are always passed over when the road is being modified.
And, he wondered: “Is that bus line more important than the safety of the residents? What if a child dies there? In this way we allow ourselves to be held hostage by the public transport agency.” The SP even spoke of blackmail.
‘Devil’s dilemma’
Responsible councilor Roelof Bisschop (VVD) spoke of a diabolical dilemma, but did not want to stop or postpone the work on the thresholds. “We are honoring our agreement with the public transport agency. Otherwise we risk losing that bus line.” However, next week he wants to look at options with residents that can improve the view of the road when leaving the driveway.
Bisschop said that more than a year after their construction, two of the five thresholds are now being removed as ‘very sad’. He promised to improve communication with residents. “That has not happened well in the past.”
Cut?
Regarding the possible felling of trees, he noted that this is a historic row of trees. “We will also have to take that into account. But we can look at the road design.” A motion to urge the council to postpone the work did not achieve a majority.