The Netherlands is ‘clearly facing a major infrastructure maintenance challenge’ for roads, bridges and waterways, among other things. CEO Boudewijn Siemons of the Port of Rotterdam Authority said this in response to major concerns about the infrastructure in the Rotterdam region due to overdue maintenance.
The Van Brienenoord Bridge in particular is in poor condition, reports the Rotterdam The Hague Metropolitan Region (MRDH). The bridge requires major maintenance quickly, otherwise the economy could be seriously affected. The Van Brienenoord Bridge is the busiest bridge in the Netherlands. Nearly a quarter of a million vehicles use the bridge every day. There is a chance that lower speeds will be necessary next year and lanes on the bridge will have to be closed to prevent the risk of collapse, according to the MRDH.
Also read | GL-PvdA: There is no point in widening roads, infrastructure maintenance is a priority
According to Siemons, the Port of Rotterdam Authority is in continuous discussions with Rijkswaterstaat and ProRail about the roads, waterways and rail connections to the hinterland. After the war there was a huge wave of investment in infrastructure. But that was constructed for completely different dimensions than what now covers it.’ The CEO therefore says that we must get to work quickly on modernizing infrastructure and that we must look carefully at what is needed in the future.
‘Don’t lose the advantage’
There is little time to lose in maintaining connections with the hinterland, Siemons believes. The Netherlands is very dependent on those connections that have always had high quality. ‘That advantage has not gone away and we should not lose it either.’ The business association for trade and logistics Evofenedex says that good accessibility of Rotterdam, with the largest port in Europe, is of ‘vital importance’ for the Dutch economy.
Also read | More disruption on railways from 2025 to 2030: ‘Huge puzzle’
Siemons calls for ‘fast and decisive action’ from Rijkswaterstaat to tackle the challenges. Evofenedex also says that in the event of closure or traffic restrictions at the Van Brienenoord Bridge, it is essential that sufficient alternative routes are available for freight traffic. These routes must be well maintained and suitable for heavy freight traffic, to minimize delays and additional costs for transport companies.
