Billions in Shortfall
Dozens of bridges, viaducts, and locks may not be renovated after 2028 if the government does not quickly make extra funds available. This warning is issued by Rijkswaterstaat (Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management) in the new multi-year plan for 2025-2030, which will be sent to the House of Representatives.
In the new report, Director-General Martin Wijnen sounds the alarm. “Deferred maintenance is growing, as is the number of malfunctions and unplanned closures.”
Many of the 2,900 viaducts, 28 tunnels, over 1,000 bridges, and 86 lock complexes managed by Rijkswaterstaat are old and in urgent need of renovation. Rijkswaterstaat therefore speaks of ‘the largest maintenance ever’.
The new Multi-year Infrastructure Maintenance Plan 2025-2030 lists all plans. The good news: Rijkswaterstaat is succeeding in renovating more and more bridges and viaducts: 244 objects will be tackled in the next three years.
After that, an acute problem arises. No funds are yet available for 76 major projects that Rijkswaterstaat is currently preparing. A total of 5 to 8 billion euros is needed.
These major projects involve many well-known bridges, locks, tunnels and viaducts throughout the Netherlands: the Wijkertunnel under the North Sea Canal, the A4 Schiphol tunnel, the Botlek tunnel and the Moerdijk bridge, the viaducts at Knooppunt Velperbroek, the Haringvlietbrug near the A29, the Volkeraksluis, the Tholense bridge and the two lock complexes at the Afsluitdijk (Stevinsluizen and Kornwerderzand). The iconic Van Brienenoord Bridge also needs to be renovated after 2028.
Only the beginning
‘We have a large number of projects in preparation for which work will start after 2028’, writes Rijkswaterstaat. ‘In order to guarantee that further production increases can be achieved, timely financial decision-making is a prerequisite.’
The shortage of 8 billion euros is only the beginning. A total of 34.5 billion euros extra is needed by 2038 to renovate all infrastructure. Top civil servant Martin Wijnen speaks of a gigantic challenge. “We are struggling with a scarcity of material, personnel, budget and space. The construction environment is also changing, with assertive citizens and stricter rules. This requires clear choices.”
The growing number of works on roads, bridges and viaducts does cause increasing inconvenience for motorists. For example, Rijkswaterstaat will carry out major works at seventeen locations for the rest of this year, which will certainly give motorists an extra hour of travel time.
No Irreversible Obligations
For now, Rijkswaterstaat says it will not enter into any irreversible obligations for the 76 projects it is preparing for 2028 and beyond. “Decision-making is up to the new cabinet.”
The Multi-year Plan ends with the veiled warning that our infrastructure ‘is the backbone of our society and economy and keeps our delta safe’. ‘A robust and sustainable Netherlands requires that we continue to invest in our infrastructure.’