Enforcement of the ban on freight traffic has been worked out in recent weeks and the necessary traffic measures have been worked out. In consultation with the regional authorities and the safety region, it has become clear that the various measures to regulate the freight traffic on the Wantijbrug during the work have such consequences for the accessibility of the region that the start of the work at the end of August is not desirable for the region. is.
By taking more time, the necessary traffic measures can be better developed and coordinated with the stakeholders. The renovation of the Wantij bridge between Papendrecht and Dordrecht will therefore incur additional delay.
In recent weeks, these measures for freight traffic have been worked out with the administrative environment and the safety region. It has been established that in the period in which the prohibitions for freight traffic apply, a number of measures are required to achieve safe and effective enforcement.
These amount to closing a lane on the N15 at the junction of the A3 to create a free passage for emergency services and creating a trap on both sides of the bridge to remove freight from the N3. In this trap, all traffic will be led through a lane and freight traffic will be directed to an alternative route. After the trap, the other traffic can continue on the N3 in two lanes.
Enforcement is also a point of attention in the period afterwards, when there is an overtaking ban for freight traffic. Freight traffic on the left lane of the N3 is not permitted with a view to the safety of the workmen in the basement of the bridge and the (navigational) road users. To avoid overtaking by freight traffic, the left lane on the bridge may also need to be closed to all traffic during this period.
Start of work unwise at the end of August
With the administrative environment and the security region, Minister C. van Nieuwenhuizen Wijbenga has come to the conclusion that starting work at the end of August is unwise. The partners point to the major impact that the approach has on the accessibility of the region in a general sense and on the accessibility for emergency services specifically (nearby hospital). Postponement of the work will give Rijkswaterstaat and the region time to develop a working method that is safe to maintain and that limits traffic disruption.
The structural safety of the bridge is not at issue in the event of a delay of up to 2 years. The bridge is monitored intensively and damage that may occur can be identified and repaired in time.
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