Announces Kethel Tunnel Closure: “Limiting Impact of Illness Reports” –

Minister Harbers (Infrastructure and Water Management) of Rijkswaterstaat wants to investigate how the nuisance for road users can be limited as much as possible should something like the Kethel tunnel happen again. The A4 tunnel at Schiedam was closed for several hours this morning due to two invigilators becoming unwell. They could not be changed immediately.

Harbers mentions an exceptional case with very unpleasant consequences for road users. But he contradicts himself that the closure of the tunnel was the result of a structural personnel shortage, as was the case with the railways and Schiphol.

“I ask Rijkswaterstaat to limit the consequences of illness reports for road users as much as possible if such a situation occurs again. This work requires specialist knowledge and safety is paramount.”

Rijkswaterstaat closed the Kethelttunnel in both directions around 06:45 this morning. Traffic was diverted via the A13 and A20. At 08:45 the tunnel reopened in both directions and the traffic jam was gradually resolved.

Closed after accident

The tunnel operator who is working today is sick. And the backup was also sick. Rijkswaterstaat says that keeping the tunnel open is therefore not safe.

“We always want to see what is happening in the tunnel,” said a spokesperson. NOS Radio 1 News. I“If there is no one at air traffic control to follow the tunnel and close it quickly in the event of an accident, then we have to close the tunnel.”

The tunnels are monitored 24 hours a day from traffic control centers with cameras and detection systems. “Traffic controllers can, for example, close the tunnel in the event of an incident, warn the emergency services and operate the installations in the tunnels,” says Rijkswaterstaat.