Rijkswaterstaat will install a crash barrier along the A59 at the Empel junction this night. It is about the place where Sanne and Hebe crashed in October last year. Minister Mark Harbers of Infrastructure and Water Management has decided to make the interchange safer.
The city council and the college of mayor and aldermen of Den Bosch were already urging measures, because things had gone wrong before the controversial accident at the same place. On Sunday, another car flew out of the bend, which then ended up in the water. The occupants were unharmed this time.
Sanne and Hebe
Sanne (26) and Hebe (10) were reported missing on October 17 last year. After a days-long search, their car, containing the bodies, was found in the water at the Empel junction near Den Bosch. Police traffic specialists did extensive research into exactly how the two died and the conclusion was a fatal accident.
The House of Representatives previously voted against placing a crash barrier at the disaster site on the advice of the minister. According to an analysis, the connecting arch would be safe enough. The crash barrier could still be installed during the next major maintenance, but that could take years.
Accelerated construction
Minister Harbers is now coming back from that. Rijkswaterstaat has investigated the entire junction. Road designers have looked extensively at the road, the verge and the signs on it.
Harbers has now decided to improve safety in all four connecting arches at the interchange. Guide rails will be placed, reflectors will be installed and the planting will be adjusted so that the bend can be seen better.
Guardrail
Because work had already been planned this week, the guide rail can also be placed in the bend where Sanne and Hebe lost their lives in the coming evening and night. The other measures, including those in the other connecting arches, will be implemented later this year.
Show good will
“This is not a place where a crash barrier would be necessary,” traffic expert Ruud Hornman told Monday. “But if you look at the number of accidents and public opinion, I understand that you are doing it anyway to show that you are of good will.”
According to traffic expert Paul van de Coevering, the minister could hardly do otherwise. “That corner should be safe, but in practice it turns out not.”
It is still unclear what exactly happened in the accident of Sanne and Hebe. “But now that there have been more accidents in that place, it is probably not just the drivers and then you have to do something.”
In the video you can see why a crash barrier was or was not necessary.