Prinses Margriet Tunnel on A7 reopens after three years, but more road works loom

The Prinses Margriet Tunnel on the A7 between Joure and Sneek fully reopened to traffic in both directions on Monday after nearly three years of construction, but motorists will soon face new roadwork on the same stretch, according to Omrop Fryslân.

Commuters, who for years had to deal with restrictions and delays, have been able to drive through the tunnel without disruption since 4 a.m.

Technical manager of Rijkswaterstaat Paul Witjes said the project involved major structural reinforcements to secure the tunnel. “In those three years we worked hard to replace the foundation under the tunnel’s approaches,” Witjes told Omrop Fryslân. “We created more than 1,100 new anchor piles and in addition had to make more than 250 wall anchors.”

The work followed months of study in 2023, when Rijkswaterstaat examined how to strengthen the tunnel without lowering the groundwater level.

Despite the reopening, new maintenance on the A7 has already begun. Witjes said the scheduling was set before the tunnel’s problems emerged. The new work first targets the roadside, meaning traffic will not yet be disrupted. Motorists are expected to experience no impact until Saturday, September 13, when road repairs will begin.