A12 open again after 1.5 week closure: ‘There is a nice road surface again’

The A12 has reopened after a closure of more than a week between the Oudenrijn and Nieuwerbrug junction. The busy arterial road was closed on Monday evening due to major maintenance and was closed until 5 a.m. this morning.

Despite the sometimes large crowds on the alternative routes over the past week and a half, Rijkswaterstaat is satisfied with the closure. “It was an intensive route, but there is a nice and tight road surface again,” says a spokesperson.

In some villages, however, the nuisance was great. Benschop, in the municipality of Lopik, for example, was closed to non-destination traffic over time. “The first morning rush hour went well, but there was already more than half an hour delay during the first evening rush,” alderman Gerrit Spelt told RTV Utrecht.

“Benschop is for a large part a 30-kilometer area. With the enormous traffic flow, it came to a complete standstill,” said Spelt. “Also because motorists did not want to give each other the right of way. It caused a lot of irritation, especially in the beginning.” After that, the village was closed to all traffic that used the village as a shortcut.

Not in the summer

Carrying out the work in the summer was ultimately not an option, says Rijkswaterstaat. “Actually, we had planned it in the third week of August, when the schools were still free. Only we are not the only ones who are talking about it. For example, we found out in conversations with Woerden that they had planned quite large events.”

“In addition, there was work being done on the N228. All of this also had an effect on the position of the Security Region: after all, the fire brigade and police also have to be able to go somewhere quickly. And for the safety of our staff, we had to close completely instead of separate lanes. the best option in such a large operation.”

‘Right choice’

Despite the problems at the start, alderman Spelt is also ultimately satisfied with the progress. “It is always a bit dangerous to be too outspoken about it, after all, I have not been bothered by it myself. But to be honest, I found it not too bad. I think the choice for a short blow was the right one. This was a few very intense for days, but now hopefully it will be ready for a while.”

During the work, repairs were carried out on viaducts and defective lighting on the A12. Between Woerden and Reeuwijk, worn asphalt has been replaced by ‘quiet’ zoab (very open asphalt concrete) and breakdown harbours, verges and crash barriers have been raised to the height of the new road surface.

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