TESO expects more blockages: “That means more nuisance for residents of Den Helder”

TESO applauds beautiful urban development developments in Den Helder. “But we are concerned about the impact of this,” the president said. “Especially for accessibility.” It is clear to TESO that problems will arise if parking capacity is not expanded. Due to the intended new developments in Den Helder, accessibility will be at stake. “That means more traffic nuisance for the residents of Den Helder and the other users of the N250. So also for the people who go to the ferry port.”

A few years ago, TESO, together with the municipality, the Royal Netherlands Navy and the business associations on Texel and in Den Helder, presented the manifest N250 to the States Committee for Mobility of the province.

“At the time, we still had good hopes that a solution would be found,” says Van den Broeck. The road regularly silts up, especially due to the traffic going to Texel. As a result, the Royal Netherlands Navy is also difficult to reach. “In short, we are making a request for an improvement in the accessibility of Den Helder.”

According to the president, there was a plan to tackle the intersection Ruygweg and the Van Kinsbergenbrug. “The idea was to make this grade-separated floor. That was a plan from Royal Haskoning in 1998. We are now years further. Little progress has been made. And it has become clear that this separation-level solution will not come.”

In the meantime, further consideration is being given to improving accessibility. “This time this will be done within the Maritime Cluster body, in which the province is also represented. TESO is therefore following these developments with great interest.”

Intelligent traffic installations

In 2020, so-called intelligent traffic installations will be installed in Den Helder. “This has improved the flow on part of the N250,” says Van den Broeck. “It is only between the traffic lights at Lands End and Molenplein that cars leaving the boat take an average of 21 seconds longer to cover this distance. Apparently because the traffic light at Molenplein is shorter on green.”

According to Van den Broeck, this has major consequences for the ferry service. “We can’t unload the ships fast enough. And if we can’t unload, we can’t load either.” As a result, TESO cannot avoid loading and unloading the boat at the same time. “That is difficult for the employees, but also confusing for the passengers. But it is necessary to be able to continue sailing within the timetable.”

Need more fuel

Boats that leave later are bad for the environment, according to the president. “Because if these have to sail faster, it is clear to everyone that more fuel is needed and more emissions are emitted. So the intelligent traffic system in Den Helder is not as intelligent as we thought.”