More space for agricultural traffic on regional roads in the South of the Netherlands

Agricultural traffic in the South of the Netherlands will have more room to drive on regional roads this year. The main road on seven roads will be opened to tractors and work equipment such as excavators.

The province investigated whether there was more room for agricultural traffic on provincial roads due to new national regulations, taking into account road safety and traffic flow. In South Holland, agricultural traffic is important to many residents and the province’s economy.

“As a province, we are responsible for our roads and safety is of the utmost importance,” says Deputy Traffic and Transport Commissioner Frederik Zevenbergen (VVD). “That’s why we carefully investigated the possibility of agricultural traffic on the main road and spoke to many parties.”

The choice of routes where agricultural traffic can travel on the main road was discussed with the trade organisations LTO and Cumela, but also with the ANWB, the Cyclists’ Federation, Veilig Verkeer Nederland, public transport companies, municipalities and the police.

Road safety

Agricultural traffic is permitted on all parallel roads in the county and on some major transportation routes. On the often narrower parallel roads, the large volume of agricultural traffic can pose a safety hazard. The lower maximum speed of agricultural traffic has a negative impact on traffic flow and traffic safety on the major road.

All sections where the main road is already open to agricultural traffic will remain open for this purpose. This concerns about half of the province’s road network. An additional 20 kilometres will be added to the following roads:

• N231 between the intersection with Dorpsstraat in Aarlanderveen and the intersection with Kennedylaan in Nieuwkoop
• N231 between the junction with Industrieweg in Nieuwkoop and the junction with Schilkerweg near Nieuwveen
• N231 between the junction with Schilkerweg near Nieuwveen and the junction with Achterweg/Oude Spoorbaan near Vrouwenakker
• N441 between the junction with Van Bronkhorstlaan in Wassenaar and the parallel road connection near the Wassenaar Hotel
• N445 between the junction with the N446 at Leiderdorp and the junction with Ripselaan at Nieuwe Wetering
• N475 between the junction with Kerkweg/Heemraadsweg in Ouderkerk aan den IJssel and the junction with Kerkweg near N210/De Loet
• N476 between the junction with Randweg in Lekkerkerk and the junction with N210