Severe traffic jams near Utrecht in May and August due to maintenance on the A12

Road users on the A12 between Veenendaal and Utrecht will have to suffer from severe traffic jams in May and August, Rijkswaterstaat warned. The service will carry out major maintenance on the motorway and will close it twice for nine consecutive days and nights over a length of 30 kilometers between the Maanderbroek and Lunetten junctions.

The old asphalt is being replaced by quieter asphalt between Veenendaal and Utrecht. There is also maintenance on lighting, crash barriers, signs along and above the road, and the greenery.

The closures will result in severe disruption, Rijkswaterstaat admitted, but they feel this option is quicker and more efficient than closing the road for ten weekends, for example. They also think it is safer for the workers if the road is completely closed off.

The two nine day closures are from Friday, May 9 at 8 p.m. up to Monday, May 19, 5 a.m. and from Friday, August 22, 8 p.m. up to Monday, September 1, 5 a.m.

Anyone choosing to take this route anyway should expect the trip to take an hour longer than usual. Rijkswaterstaat has advised people to work from home or use the train or bicycle.