TLN: More attention for verkeersbruggen necessary – Transport Online

ZOETERMEER – Today debating the Second Room on long-term investment in infrastructure. On the agenda is the maintenance of roads and bridges. TLN is deeply concerned about the state of verkeersbruggen in the Netherlands. In recent years there has been substantial cuts in the Infrastructuurfonds, from which the maintenance and management of the verkeersbruggen is paid.

Although there is in this fund, unlike in the past, structural funds reserved for administration and maintenance of infrastructure, but the situation around the Merwedebrug raises the question whether the approach of the maintenance of bridges is good. TLN will call the Second Room on more financial resources for maintenance and replacement of bridges.

sticking Plasters

The situation around the Merwedebrug shows that a sudden closure of a bridge have a huge impact for the logistics industry. Every day about 18,000 trucks to detour. But funnily enough, was the Merwedebrug’t on the list of Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) with 14 major steel bridges, which up to 2020 will be renovated. RWS indicates that the steel bridges such as the Merwedebrug deducts on technical life instead of useful life.

That means that is not invested in the reconstruction or replacement if the bridge is economically not sufficient. RWS continues to monitor and 'sticking plasters' until the bridge literally 'falls apart'. This situation occurs with more bridges. So are the Wilhelminabrug in Deventer and the ‘Waalbrug’ bridge in Nijmegen closed for traffic heavier than 40 tons. TLN fears of many bridges is not known is how strong and how safe they currently are and that new, unforeseen closings will follow.

Practical solutions

For TLN is safety above all. No discussion: if a bridge is not safe for traffic and closure is the only option, then that should also happen. Of interest to TLN, however, that there is more insight, approach, schedule and budget for maintenance of bridges. In addition, if there are problems, then you should choose for solutions that are as workable as possible for the logistics sector.

It also fits a good arrangement for nadeelcompensatie. Entrepreneurs suffer in the event of sudden closure caused substantial damage and experienced significant problems with the planning of journeys within the existing regulations for driving and rest periods.

Call to the Second Room: 'Action Bridges' required

TLN call the Second Room on the to put on a 'Plan of action Bridges in which a transparent and objective insight about the state of important verkeersbruggen in the Netherlands. This includes sufficient financial booking to anticipated problems and emergencies to be able to adequately prevent and to solve.

News article posted on 28-11-2016 09:40 by Editorial [FE]