Rijkswaterstaat has suspended all major road maintenance projects scheduled for 2027 and 2028 in the northern Netherlands due to a severe funding shortage from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
The budget deficit for Rijkswaterstaat maintenance projects is projected to reach 34.5 billion euros by 2038, forcing the agency to temporarily halt various infrastructure projects across the country.
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In the Groningen region, the budget cuts directly affect scheduled maintenance on major transit routes, including the A7, A28, and N33 highways.
"Er is veel meer werk dan dat er geld beschikbaar is," said Anne van der Meer, Spokesperson for Rijkswaterstaat, noting that the national budget cannot cover the necessary infrastructure demands.
The suspension of these projects means that 92 kilometers of asphalt will not be replaced, and 94 overpasses will not receive planned upkeep in the northern region.
"Wat het concreet betekent in Noord-Nederland is dat 92 kilometer aan asfalt niet wordt vervangen en 94 viaducten geen onderhoud krijgen," said Van der Meer, adding that sewer systems and road markings will also be excluded from maintenance.
The agency acknowledged that delaying these large-scale infrastructure projects risks impacting overall road safety conditions.
"Als groot onderhoud niet wordt uitgevoerd, heeft het uiteraard gevolgen voor de veiligheid," said Van der Meer.
The agency also noted that nationwide projects are facing similar temporary freezes as a result of the funding gap.
"Er worden allerlei projecten tijdelijk stopgezet," said Van der Meer.
The delay raises infrastructure risks, particularly following severe asphalt degradation documented during the previous winter season in Groningen.
"De kans op storingen wordt ook vergroot," said Van der Meer, explaining that lanes might be closed if road damage occurs.
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Rijkswaterstaat stated that they intend to continuously observe road conditions to address any immediate safety hazards that arise.
"Maar we monitoren onze wegen voortdurend.
Als er ergens problemen zijn wat betreft de veiligheid komen we onmiddellijk in actie," said Van der Meer, noting that speed limit reductions may be implemented if necessary.
The agency indicated that alternative safety measures remain under consideration to manage the deferred maintenance areas.
"We kunnen bijvoorbeeld kijken of de snelheid op bepaalde stukken kan worden verlaagd," said Van der Meer.
According to Rijkswaterstaat officials, the scheduled work in the northern provinces does not require immediate, emergency intervention.
"We blijven monitoren wat er gaande is," said Mathijs Tax, Representative for Rijkswaterstaat, regarding the ongoing oversight of the affected routes.
The agency maintains that the infrastructure improvements will eventually be executed once funding issues are resolved.
"Uiteindelijk gaat het wel gebeuren," said Tax.
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The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is expected to clarify its reprioritization plans for the national road budget in the fall.
