Traffic on roads around Utrecht is again at a standstill on Friday afternoon due to the work on the A2, “while the evening rush hour has yet to begin”. The A2 is closed until Monday morning in the direction of Den Bosch, between the Oudenrijn junction and the Everdingen junction. Rijkswaterstaat already called on road users on Thursday to avoid the roads around Utrecht in the coming days.
Traffic started to get stuck mid-morning on Friday and now there are major traffic jams on several roads. Around 2:30 PM, there was a 10-kilometer traffic jam on the A2 between Breukelen and the Leidsche Rijntunnel and on the A12, delays are up to half an hour. The biggest disruption is on the A27 between Hilversum and Hagestein, where traffic is delayed for almost an hour and a half.
During the first closure of the A2, last weekend, there was a lot of inconvenience, especially in and around Nieuwegein. Rijkswaterstaat came up with a package of measures to prevent traffic in the Utrecht region from becoming gridlocked again. For example, traffic controllers were deployed and traffic lights were adjusted differently to improve the flow. Despite this, the road is very busy again.
Rijkswaterstaat warned on Thursday already before the crowds and advised road users to avoid the roads around Nieuwegein and Utrecht today and this coming weekend. “Postpone your journey on those days where possible.” People who still have to go on the road are best advised to follow the diversion route and not their navigation system.
30 september
According to Rijkswaterstaat, the asphalt on the A2 in the direction of Den Bosch has reached the end of its lifespan and is therefore now being replaced. Quieter asphalt will be laid in its place, the joints of a number of viaducts will be replaced and work will be carried out on the crash barriers. Finally, work will be carried out on the Jan Blankenbrug near Vianen.
In the first weekends, the A2 will be closed from Thursday evening 21:00, which means that traffic will also have to divert during the day on Friday. This weekend, the section up to Everdingen will be closed. In the weekend of 29 August to 2 September, this will concern the section up to Vianen.
In addition to the daytime closures, there are eight nighttime closures. Furthermore, during the week, there are fewer lanes available both during the day and at night between the Oudenrijn junction and the Everdingen junction. The work will last until 30 September.