During a debate about infrastructure, coalition parties D66 and the CDA have come into serious conflict with each other about the extension of the A27 near Utrecht, which costs 265 million euros more than budgeted. D66 wants Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen to postpone the project until she has found cover for this financial hole. The CDA says that D66 does not adhere to the coalition agreement in which the project is included.
D66 Member of Parliament Rutger Schonis focuses in his criticism not only on the fact that the expansion is more expensive than originally budgeted, but also includes nitrogen compensation in his criticism. Previously, the expansion was banned by the Council of State because it did not fit within the nitrogen guidelines. This can happen again if it appears that the nitrogen compensation in the revised plan is again not sufficient. Schonis therefore calls the minister’s decision to start the project “premature”.
However, according to CDA MP Wytske Postma, the extension of the A27 must go ahead, partly because Utrecht is expanding with approximately 125,000 homes and all of which must be easily accessible. In addition, she believes the road is important for the rest of the region. She does want the minister to investigate how the shortage can be kept within limits, but she says that the project can continue as usual, according to the CDA. She finds it resentful that Schonis is now criticizing the project, especially because the motorway widening has been included in the coalition agreement.
D66 is not the only party to criticize the extension of the A27. GroenLinks, Party for the Animals and the SP, among others, think that Van Nieuwenhuizen is “with blinkers on through”. The parties also do not see the need for the project, now that many more people are working from home due to the corona crisis and may continue to do so once the corona is over.