Blankenburgverbinding officially open to traffic

The official opening of the Blankenburgverbinding was performed by Infrastructure and Water Management Minister Barry Madlener. ‘With the opening of the A24/Blankenburgverbinding, we are really helping our country move forward. We are giving road users more freedom of movement and the region more economic opportunities. As a Member of Parliament, I was involved in the decision-making process for this road and as a resident of the region, I know how important this connection is. Today I have the honour of opening this beautiful new motorway. I am happy for the region and proud of the result!’, the minister said.

Better accessibility

The new A24 motorway connects the A20 near Vlaardingen with the A15 near Rozenburg. Since 2018, Rijkswaterstaat and construction consortium BAAK (Ballast Nedam, DEME Group and HICL Infrastructure) have been building on this extensive project. The brand new three-lane motorway is 4.5 kilometres long and, in addition to the Maas Delta Tunnel (under River Scheur) and the Holland Tunnel (land tunnel), it also includes two new interchanges: Vlaardingen interchange at the A20 and Rozenburg interchange at the A15.

The new riverbank connection will help improve traffic flow in the region and strengthen the economic position of the port of Rotterdam and Greenport Westland. It is also expected to significantly reduce traffic jams at the Beneluxtunnel on the A4 and A15.

Successful collaboration on complex project

With the completion of this project, the parties involved are together delivering a feat. Project Director Patrick van Os looks back: ‘In short, you can say that the Blankenburgverbinding is a four-kilometre-long chain of technical constructions. A complex operation in which all infrastructure disciplines come together: from the construction of a land and immersion tunnel, many viaducts and fly-overs to the widening of motorways and the application of new asphalt.’

From the start of the tender in 2016, all sides have worked hard to make this project a success. Civil Site Manager Conrad Hordijk is therefore proud of the team effort: ‘In the past eight years, there have been plenty of challenges. Logical, on such an extensive project. Thanks to the good cooperation between all partners, we now have a new motorway that will have a major impact on the Rotterdam region. Everyone who contributed to this should therefore be incredibly proud of the result!’

In addition to all construction site staff, more than 100 divers were also flown in from different countries, Conrad continues. ‘The construction of the access ramps to the immersion tunnel required a large amount of diving work on both banks. The fact that so many divers were deployed in double shifts made the work extra special. The implementation team put in months of hard work and literally worked day and night to get this project done. We are incredibly appreciative of that.’

Always in touch with the environment

Careful environment management was another important factor that contributed to the smooth running of this project. Stakeholder manager Anne Peters explains: ‘From start to finish, we were in contact with the environment as a construction consortium together with Rijkswaterstaat. We always communicated openly and clearly with all stakeholders; from local residents and road users to social organisations, public authorities and the business community. Hugely important to keep all lines of communication open in a project that is so far-reaching for the environment.’

Patrick van Os: ‘We didn't just build the road, we also redesigned the area around it in close consultation with our stakeholders. A lot of greenery was planted, banks were re-lined and there are new roads and cycle paths. In this way, the A24 has blended nicely into the landscape. The fact that we have brought together so many different disciplines in this project and are opening the Blankenburgverbinding on schedule today is something we can be proud of.’

Images: Rijkswaterstaat