Pekela bridges restored: Navigability of Pekelder Hoofddiep to return by 2027
Residents of Pekela can soon cross key bridges again as restoration work begins. The project, lasting until late 2027, aims to make the Pekelder Hoofddiep fully navigable, improving local transport and connectivity for the community.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Bridges Involved | Zuiderdraai (Boven Pekela), Union Bridge (Oude Pekela), Koloniedraai |
| Project Duration | March 2026 – End of 2027 |
| Initial Work | Cleaning bearings, lubricating pivot points |
| Major Maintenance | Dismantling, refurbishing, and reinstalling bridges (Phase 2) |
| Parties Involved | Pekela Village Cooperative, Municipality of Pekela |
| Agreement Signed | October 2025 |
| Impact on Residents | Temporary bridge closures during major maintenance |
The Pekela Village Cooperative and the municipality collaborate to restore local infrastructure, ensuring safe and functional bridges for residents. This initiative reflects the government’s role in maintaining regional waterways and transport links, vital for local mobility and economic activity.
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Bridges to become operational again
The Pekela Village Cooperative has started making the bridges operational again. The Zuiderdraai in Boven Pekela and the Union Bridge in Oude Pekela have been the first to be addressed.
This marks the beginning of an operation lasting over a year and a half to ensure that the Pekelder Hoofddiep is navigable again by the end of 2027.
Initially, the work is limited to cleaning the bearings and lubricating the pivot points. However, in some cases, more extensive measures are necessary, such as at the Koloniedraai in Boven Pekela. More information about this will follow later.
The municipality and the Village Cooperative signed a cooperation agreement in October 2025 to make the Pekelder Hoofddiep navigable as quickly as possible. In the years following, the village cooperative will carry out phase 2: performing major maintenance on the bridges and their operation.
For the major maintenance work, the bridges will be dismantled one by one, refurbished, and then reinstalled. The respective bridge may then be out of service for an extended period.