Problems mount on the road as storm winds pick up
Meteorological institute extended its code orange storm warning to the entire country. Traffic information services are reporting increasing problems on the roads due to accidents and bridges closing due to the strong winds.
The dike between Enkhuizen and Lelystad is currently closed to freight traffic and cars pulling trailers due to the weather. The Oosterscheldekering will be closed to all traffic between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
The A9 highway near the Badhoevedorp junction was completely closed for a time because of a truck trailer that toppled just before 8:00 a.m. According to traffic information service VID, one lane reopened around 8:35 a.m. and a trickle of traffic started trickling by the truck. The trailer was moved out of the way and the highway reopened at 8:50 a.m. There is still a traffic jam towards Amstelveen, ANWB reports.
The A1 highway from Germany to Deventer is completely closed near Hengelo due to an accident involving six cars. Traffic is being redirected via the off ramp, according to VID. Two lanes of the A13 from Rotterdam to Rijswijk are closed due to an accident involving five vehicles, according to public works department Rijkswaterstaat. A truck crashed into a petrol station on the A12 in Utrecht near Oudenhorst. Two of the tree lanes are closed.
The A20 highways is closed at Massluist towards Gouda due to a broken truck - the roof of the truck is lying on the road, according to Rijkswaterstaat. Two lanes of the A27 from Gorinchem towards Utrecht are closed because of a road sign that blew onto the road.
De #A20 Hoek van Holland - Gouda is dicht tussen Maasdijk en Maassluis. Het dak van een vrachtwagen is er deels vanaf gewaaid. #storm 📷 @Fabje30 pic.twitter.com/9UbWF4GmwP
— Rijkswaterstaat Verkeersinformatie (@RWSverkeersinfo) January 18, 2018
The rush hour is over but the storm not yet, Rijkswaterstaat warned at 9:00 a.m. Storm winds will still cause traffic problems across the country, the public works department expects.