A7 completely closed near Purmerend, ‘due to unprofessional drivers’

Because some trucks did not adhere to the 25-ton weight restriction during the work, the A7 near Purmerend is completely closed to freight traffic from today. Elisabeth Post of the Logistics Alliance is extremely disappointed and calls it unprofessional that drivers did not comply with the restriction.

The restriction means that all trucks have to take a detour, which, according to Post, chairman of the Logistics Alliance network organization, means ‘more time, more costs and more emissions’.

She acknowledges that ‘it’s the good who suffer from the bad’, after several drivers ignored the weight restriction, meaning everyone now has to take detours. ‘We are a professional sector, so you can expect people to behave professionally on the road. I’m disappointed that it’s not happening.’

According to Post, around 8,500 trucks drive on the road every day where work is being done on a bridge over the Noordhollandsch Kanaal. “If they are all delayed by an hour, this could lead to damage of up to 50 million euros in five months,” although she indicates that this is a very rough estimate.

Also read | Months of disruption on the A7 due to bridge work: ‘Work from home if possible’

Many viaducts, bridges and tunnels need to be replaced

The sector is bracing itself for many more road works, especially on viaducts, tunnels and bridges. ‘These largely date from just after the Second World War, the period of reconstruction. We also know that they last about sixty years. So they all need to be replaced around this time.’

In addition, she believes that the central government has not or hardly carried out any maintenance in recent years, which could have extended the lifespan. “That means the infrastructure is in much worse shape than it could have been.”

Also read | ‘The condition of Dutch bridges is a huge problem’

In conversation with Minister Harbers

With a view to opening the A7, Post hopes to be able to enter into discussions with Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Mark Harbers. ‘I understand that it is now important that heavy traffic cannot cross the bridge because it is being drilled. Once the reinforcement is put back in place, it may be possible to be a little more flexible again,” she says.

Although she does count on the cooperation of the truck drivers. ‘If people don’t follow the rules, you ruin it for everyone. My concern is that if people don’t adhere to it here, they won’t do it in other places either. And then every time it is the entire sector that loses out.’