The closure of the Norgerbrug near Assen, which was originally scheduled to last for half a year until last May, has been significantly extended. According to the NOS, traffic is now not expected to be able to cross the bridge again until early 2027.
Norgerbrug Closure Extended to Early 2027 Due to Protected Barn Swallows
The infrastructure project, aimed at replacing the century-old bridge that is vital for regional accessibility, has faced multiple setbacks since work began in November. Initial delays were caused by freezing winter weather and difficulties during the installation of the new sheet piling. More recently, construction has been halted for months because protected barn swallows chose the new bridge section to nest.
Strict Nature Legislation Halts Construction
Under strict environmental laws, nesting barn swallows cannot be disturbed. According to the dekrantnieuws.nl report, an ecological expert recently discovered a second clutch in an old nest as well as a new nest with a breeding swallow under the bridge. Because barn swallows have a long breeding season and can lay eggs two to three times in a single season to raise as many young as possible before migrating to Africa, the birds remain protected until their nesting cycle concludes.
Drenthe provincial executive member Bart van Dekken noted that the presence of the birds caught officials by surprise. They were not yet under the old bridge. That they have now started nesting under the new part surprised us too, Van Dekken stated, adding that The law is very clear. You don't have much else to do when the bird comes to breed here. Albert de Jong of the bird research institute Sovon explained that barn swallows naturally prefer to nest under structures, ideally sheltered locations such as bridges.
Impact on Local Residents, Commuters, and Businesses
The prolonged closure has created ongoing traffic problems for surrounding villages. While official diversion routes run from Roden or Norg to Assen via Vries and the A28, many motorists rely on local shortcut routes through Peest and Zeijen, where temporary road narrowing measures have had little effect according to local residents, as reported by rtvdrenthe.nl.
Local entrepreneurs have also absorbed financial losses due to reduced customer accessibility. Hermen Hoorn, an asparagus grower with a farm shop near the Norgervaart, stated that he was forced to open a temporary pop-up location in Assen to salvage his asparagus sales, costing him tens of thousands of extra euros. Van Dekken acknowledged the heavy toll on the community, stating that the province plans to speak with affected parties regarding potential compensation.
Timeline for Resuming Work and Reopening
Work on the adjacent Norgervaart road has progressed further than the bridge itself. By late October, the Norgervaart is expected to reopen partially for agricultural traffic and public transport, though other traffic must continue using the diversion route to prevent unsafe traffic conditions in the Kloosterveen district.
The province anticipates that the swallows’ nests will be vacated by October, allowing ecological inspections to finish and the contractor to resume the remaining bridge work. Completing the final construction phase, finishing touches, and testing is expected to take approximately eight weeks. However, provincial authorities have cautioned that upcoming autumn and winter weather conditions could still influence the final schedule.
