The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is earmarking € 165 million up to and including next year to make dangerous intersections, cycle paths, roads and roundabouts safer. Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen writes this to the House of Representatives. The money will benefit nearly 190 municipalities, all provinces and two water boards.
Local authorities could submit an application to the ministry until September to deal with unsafe traffic situations. To be eligible, they must also invest an equal amount in the planned adjustment themselves. Within the next ten years, the cabinet has reserved a total of € 500 million for local authorities to improve these dangerous situations. This includes the construction of speed bumps, road narrows, safe verges and separate cycle paths. Bicycle paths can also be widened with this money and intersections can be turned into roundabouts. Thirty municipalities received funding to set up safe school zones. It is planned that approximately two thirds of the measures will be implemented within a year.
Van Nieuwenhuizen believes that ‘very good plans’ have been submitted and believes that the extra money will make the difference in improving road safety. “We are using the national doubler. In this way, the people at the local and regional authorities can now quickly get started to tackle that dangerous intersection or that too narrow cycle path. This will really make a difference and ensure fewer accidents. those roads and cycle paths. “