Rijkswaterstaat will begin renovating the Kooy Bridge on the N99 motorway at Den Helder on Monday, October 14, 2024. Contractor VolkerWessels will renovate the bridge until the end of April 2025, plus another week in May or June, commissioned by Rijkswaterstaat. The work will be carried out in several phases, with varying degrees of disruption to traffic during each phase. Road users should expect significant additional travel time during this period, which could reach up to 30 minutes during peak hours. Furthermore, the bridge will not be operated during the work, requiring vessels taller than 8.30 meters to deviate. Rijkswaterstaat advises road and waterway users to be well prepared before they travel.
The bridge is over 30 years old and is due for a major overhaul. This will ensure the Kooy Bridge remains safe and accessible to all traffic in the future. The work will be carried out in several phases.
Obstruction to shipping
The bridge will be out of service during the entire renovation. This means that vessels taller than 8.30 m will have to navigate around the bridge from Monday, October 21, 2024, until the end of April 2025, plus a week in May or June 2025, because they cannot pass under the fixed section of the Kooy Bridge. Waterway users are advised to check the website for up-to-date information, including information about other bridges and locks. www.vaarweginformatie.nl to watch.
Obstruction to road traffic
Preparatory work, including some night closures, will begin from Monday, October 14th through Friday, October 18th. Phase 1 begins on Monday, October 21st, and the bridge will no longer be fully accessible. This phase will last until Friday, December 20th, 2024, when the main carriageway (N99) of the Kooy Bridge will be renovated. During this period, one lane will remain open to traffic heading towards the Afsluitdijk. During several night closures, the bridge will be closed in both directions. The road surface has been narrowed to ensure the bridge's structural safety. A speed limit of 30 km/h applies on the bridge.
Nuisance during the day
Traffic from Den Helder to the Afsluitdijk can cross the bridge during the day. The bridge is closed for traffic from the Afsluitdijk to Den Helder. This traffic will be diverted via the N99 to the N249 and the N9 or via the A7 to the N248 and the N9. Yellow signs along the road indicate the detours. Emergency services and Connexxion buses can continue to use the bridge in both directions. Motorized traffic that cannot use the detours, such as agricultural vehicles, can cross the bridge in both directions outside of rush hour. Peak hours are from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. During the initial phase, a free daytime ferry will operate across the North Holland Canal for pedestrians, cyclists, and mopeds. Traffic in both directions is regulated during the day and at night by the use of traffic lights and, in exceptional cases, such as at the start of the renovation, by traffic controllers.
Ferry
A daytime ferry will operate for pedestrians, cyclists, and mopeds from Monday, October 21, to Friday, December 20, 2024. This free ferry, which runs between Rijksweg and Balgweg, will be available from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Please be aware that there may be a waiting time when using the ferry, especially during rush hour. Public transport is also an alternative. The ferry will not operate at night, and pedestrians, cyclists, and mopeds can cross the bridge via a footpath.
Nuisance at night
’At night, the same situation applies as during the day, except during various night closures. During these closures, which last from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM, the bridge is completely closed to traffic. Except for emergency services and Connexxion buses, which always have access. Traffic towards Den Helder is diverted via the N99 to the N249 and N9 or via the A7 to the N248 and N9. Traffic towards the Afsluitdijk is diverted via the N9 and N249 or N248. The night closures during the first phase will take place from:
- Monday evening, October 14th until Friday morning, October 18th;
- Sunday evening, October 20th until Saturday morning, October 26th;
- Monday evening 11 November to Wednesday morning 13 November;
- Monday evening, December 2nd until Saturday morning, December 7th, 2024.
Follow-up work
In principle, no work will take place during the Christmas holidays. The bridge will be open to all traffic from Saturday, December 21, 2024, to Sunday, January 5, 2025. The bridge will not be operated; the height restriction for ships with a mast height of 8.30 m remains in effect. Work will continue on Monday, January 6, 2025, until the end of April 2025, with additional traffic disruptions, and for another week in May or June, when the bridge will be completely closed. Weather conditions will affect the work. In the event of bad weather and/or unforeseen circumstances, the work may be postponed.
Region
Rijkswaterstaat is working closely with regional stakeholders on this project, including municipalities, the province, ProRail, and the emergency services. Other stakeholders, such as businesses, are kept as informed as possible by Rijkswaterstaat. Last year, work on the bridge was postponed due to concerns about regional accessibility. Based on this, traffic conditions during the work have now been managed so that the bridge remains open in the direction of the Afsluitdijk.
More information
More information about the Kooybrug renovation can be found on the project site: www.rws.nl/kooybrug and on the BouwApp. Here you'll find a complete overview of all phases and (night) closures, including detours.
