N279: develop short-term measures and new traffic study within broad interest approach

's-Hertogenbosch, Dec. 22, 2022 - The province of North Brabant, the municipalities involved in the N279 and the Aa and Maas Water Board are continuing to work on a robust solution for the N279 within the broad interests approach. For example, the parties are having short-term measures worked out for the provincial road between Veghel and Asten. These are measures that all parties are convinced will immediately improve safety, quality of life and traffic flow and can be implemented relatively quickly. Examples include improving dangerous crossings and unsafe exits. At the same time, additional traffic research and a livability analysis will be done for this stretch of the N279 in 2023. Together, these will form the factual basis for the decisions yet to be made.

This plan of action has the support of the Provincial Executive, the Boards of Mayor and Aldermen of Helmond, Deurne, Meierijstad, Laarbeek, Gemert-Bakel, Veghel and Asten, and the board of the water board. "Simply put, we want to make meters as quickly as possible in the short term and do what can be done, without getting in the way of choices to be made later," said deputy and chairman of the N279 steering committee Suzanne Otters-Bruijnen.

The interests of the project partners are diverse, but all parties involved want a livable environment, a well-functioning supra-regional, regional and local road network and a safe N279. Steering committee chairman Otters-Bruijnen: "With this in mind, we will soon have to make decisions together about, for example, whether or not to build a bypass at Dierdonk or widen the road. This not only requires an open mind and weighing up interests, but in order to do so - even if it takes time - we must first gain a better understanding of the future traffic flow and its consequences. Figures, facts and diligence are essential for support and follow-up."

Most up-to-date traffic model

It is quite possible that, given the economic growth in this part of Brabant, congestion on the N279 will increase more sharply than expected. A new traffic study and associated livability analysis are therefore necessary. The traffic forecasts used in the (now annulled) provincial incorporation plan was one of the points criticized by the Council of State. The new study uses the latest Brabant-wide traffic model and tests the results against traffic counts and anonymous data from apps and navigation systems (floating car data). The livability analysis examines, among other things, the possible impact on nature, environment and surroundings. It also looks at national developments in terms of paying for use and the advantages and disadvantages of the mobility transition (a different way of traveling and working).

All this should be completed by the end of 2023 and lead to the design, direction and planning to arrive at an overall solution for the N279 and its surroundings. If there are interests that are not or insufficiently served by the overall solution, we will see how and where they can be further discussed. Not only mutual cooperation is important: for the immediate measures as well as for the research and analysis, it is good to involve local residents and social partners. A participation plan will therefore be created before the start of the next phase. In that plan, the way in which the environment will be involved is detailed.