The Wijkertunnel will again be closed to all traffic this weekend. The past weekends have shown that this closure causes major traffic problems in the IJmond. Taxi driver Henk van der Valk describes it aptly: “Velsen is like an oil rig. It is so difficult to get away, especially now that the sea lock is still closed.”
Consequences of work for animal ambulance and taxi company – NH Nieuws
“We just hope that there are no special features with the tunnel,” says Gerrit van Egmond from the animal ambulance. But they will be back next weekend. This is very annoying for the Kennemerland Animal Ambulance. “It should not be the case that you have to start thinking the moment you get a ride, as long as there are no problems with the Velsertunnel.”
Not to be planned
“Dramatic again. To cry. Not just for me, but for everyone in this region,” says taxi driver Henk van der Valk. “You make a schedule at the start of the day that doesn’t always go the way you want anyway, but you can’t plan against this.”
And the work is also not to his customers’ liking, just now that it is starting to get old-fashioned busy again. “The delays we have incurred are just 45 minutes, for example for a ride to Beverwijk,” says Van der Valk. “Those people really don’t get happy if the meter keeps running and neither do I.”
It is clear to Van Egmond who is responsible. “Rijkswaterstaat must do something about it, with the Velsertunnel. If it is not closed, we have no problem here.”
Rijkswaterstaat
According to traffic advisor Edwin Boekel, Rijkswaterstaat cannot do many things better with regard to tunnel closures than is already happening. It is possible that communication about the closures could be better, but according to him that is not so easy either.
Boekel: “Now the tunnels are occasionally closed for a short period of time, and then there are also short-term problems. Studies show that most people prefer ‘short and intense’ to work that lasts for a longer period. Perhaps the yellow diversion signs could be better , but people often follow it poorly. They prefer to rely on their own navigation or knowledge of the environment.”