During the weekend of February 22 and 23, 2025, Rijkswaterstaat will conduct a pilot with joint injection in the Roertunnel (A73). This trial aims to investigate whether joint injection can reduce noise and vibration disturbances for nearby residents.
We are combining the trial with the final maintenance work, so no extra closures of the Roertunnel are needed.
Pilot with artificial gel injection
In 2020, Rijkswaterstaat and the municipality of Roermond started an investigation. Residents near the tunnel experience disturbances from low-frequency noise and vibrations caused by heavy truck traffic. In October 2023, then-minister Harbers announced a pilot to see if an experimental technique, injecting an artificial gel (acrylate gel) into the tunnel joints, can help reduce the disturbances for residents.
Alderman Vincent Zwijnenberg, municipality of Roermond (Infrastructure and Mobility): ‘I hope this gel injection trial brings us closer to a solution to reduce disturbances for residents of the ’t Parcje and Groene Campagne neighborhoods. We will closely monitor the results of this trial together with Rijkswaterstaat.’
Pilot preparation
In 2024, we developed this pilot in collaboration with the market. In preparing for the pilot, we looked at feasibility, joint construction and technique, injection method, injection material, and testing it, choosing the most ideal execution time, a cold period. During a cold period, thermal shrinkage of the concrete tunnel sections maximizes the space in the joints for proper material injection.
Installation of measurement equipment
The injection trial in the Roertunnel takes place near the Heidebaan (Roermond-South). This location was chosen based on previous vibration measurements and the available space in the joints between the tunnel segments. On Friday, February 14, 2025, the measurement equipment (vibration meters) was installed for a baseline measurement of 1 week.
After the joint injection and its curing, a post-measurement will follow for 1 week. An annual measurement is necessary to determine the long-term effectiveness of the joint injection. Nebest is carrying out the work. The municipality of Roermond and Rijkswaterstaat have informed the affected residents about the upcoming trial.
Combination with major maintenance closure
From Friday, February 21, 9:00 PM to Monday, February 24, 2025, 6:00 AM, the Roertunnel and the Tunnel Swalmen will be closed for the final work of the major maintenance. Therefore, Rijkswaterstaat will perform the joint injection trial during this weekend to avoid extra night or weekend closures of the Roertunnel.