More motorists in Groningen are stuck in traffic jams than during Operation Ring Zuid so far. Meanwhile, other roads remain empty.
While traffic in Groningen on the major holidays (King’s Day, May 5) was not too bad, it became very busy in the city on other days during the May holidays. Especially during the afternoon rush hour, but also at other times there is standstill traffic. For example, when the bridges go up.
For example, the east-west route past the Main Station was packed on Wednesday morning. If the bridge over the Reitdiep in the ring road is open, the traffic situation normalizes fairly quickly.
More people may be getting into the car because the nuisance in the first period of Operation Ring South was not too bad, but that has now changed. Some road users cannot tolerate the delays. You often see them doing crazy antics and blocking intersections.
Groningen Bereikbaar is looking forward to next week. Then the May holidays are over and even more people go out. The organization noticed at the end of April that it is becoming increasingly busy and continues to call on road users to leave their cars behind as much as possible (again).
Delay Diepenring, Waterhuizen and Ring West
Due to the shifting of the work, it became more busy at the end of April on the north side of the city center (Noorderhaven), on the Winschoterweg (the route via Waterhuizen and Glimmen) and on the Van Ketwich Verschuurlaan. It has become a lot busier on Ring West and the route past the Main Station (Griffeweg, Trompsingel, Zuiderpark, Stationsweg, Eeldersingel). There has been a lot of extra traffic there since the start of Operation Ring Zuid. According to Groningen Bereikbaar, you shouldn’t want to be there if you don’t have a destination.
Why is driving around the city suddenly more difficult?
This is due to the shifting of work. Since last weekend, the ring road between Drachten and Assen (the west side of Julianaplein) has been in use again and the east side (towards Hoogezand) is completely closed. There are normally many more cars there, so more motorists now have to deal with the traffic jam. The opening of the sailing season doesn’t help either: it means the bridges go up more often.
Will it stay that busy?
That remains to be seen. There is a fear that so, because schools are starting again. On the other hand, road users often need a while to get used to it and often adjust their behavior within a few days to avoid delays.
According to Groningen Bereikbaar, other parts of the ring road (Ring West, North and East) remain the best alternative for motorists. That route is often faster than the inland route. Breakdowns, collisions and other incidents cause extra delays everywhere. Technicians also had to take action on Wednesday due to a malfunction in the traffic light system on Europaweg.
Temporary road remains empty
Meanwhile, roads also remain empty. According to Jeroen Rauwers of Groningen Bereikbaar, road users have not yet ‘found’ the entrance to Drachten from the Brailleweg and Vondellaan. “There is little traffic, while that is a good route for some people.”
It is also so quiet on the temporary road along DUO from Helperzoom to Hereweg that it resembles a ghost road. This is because road users in Helpman drive over Haydnlaan and Helper Brink. “We try to prevent that, because it is not nice for the residents. The Helper Brink is also an emergency route for the fire brigade and ambulance care.”
There have been additional information signs since Wednesday, access to Haydnlaan has been narrowed and traffic on Hereweg has green more often in Helpman. “That means you are always faster when you drive via the new road,” says Rauwers. The organization does not want to close Haydnlaan to prevent residents of the neighborhood from being unable to get home.
The route is intended for city traffic between Europapark and Helpman. To prevent nuisance in Helpman, road users must turn right from the tunnel onto Helperzoom. Since ring road builder Herepoort has to demolish the ring road viaduct, the temporary one-way road has been constructed.
It is not yet busy on the temporary car route for residents of the Oosterpoortwijk, but that was not the intention. They can drive to the Hereweg via a short climb via the ring road until July 21. They go before the railway onto the ring road over a slope of 14 percent. Unfortunately for cyclists, they are not allowed to test their climbing ability there.
What is Operation Ring South again?
Ring road builder Combination Herepoort will complete the major parts of the new road (Vrijheidsplein, Julianaplein, Verdieping Ligging) and connect them together between March 23 and September 2. It only concerns the main road network. After the opening, the contractor in the city will design all kinds of roads, squares and routes in a new way, such as the Zuiderplantsoen.
To Assen via Veendam: less chance of delay
Two diversion routes to Assen are indicated from the Zuid-Oost business park: via the Ringweg or via the A7 and the N33 (via Veendam). The latter surprises some road users, but it is deliberately stated on the signs.
“We spread the crowds this way, and the route via Veendam may not always be faster, but it is more reliable. There is less chance of delay,” explains Debra van Kleinwee from the organization. “In this case, Assen is intended as a direction and not so much as a final destination. If you drive from Groningen to Zwolle, this route makes more sense than if you have to be in the north of Assen.”
