At the end of February 2026, construction will begin on a recropassage under the N261. This is a safe passage for animals and a new cycling and walking route. The work is divided into phases and will last until early 2027. Contractor BAM will start preparations in the week of 9 February.
To make space for the construction of the Recropassage and the ecological connection, trees will also be cut down that week in the area between Stokhasseltlaan and the N261. The municipality will compensate for the felled trees. In the Hazenest forest at Riddershofpad, new forest will be planted in autumn 2026.
Construction site
For setting up the construction site, temporary connections and pipelines will be installed and a temporary construction entrance will be created at Stokhasseltlaan.
Start of construction and planning
On the night of 28 February, the N261 will be fully closed for one night. Among other things, a sheet pile wall will be placed in the central reservation. From 1 March, traffic on the N261 will be directed via a temporary route. This is necessary because the contractor will remove the current asphalt, excavate the ground, and start building the viaducts and the cycle path in the week of 2 March.
Two phases
The construction takes place in two phases, each per direction. This keeps the N261 accessible for daily traffic and visitors to the Efteling. There will be two viaducts over the N261: one over the Tilburg – Waalwijk lane and one over the Waalwijk – Tilburg lane. The expectation is that the first viaduct will open to traffic in October 2026. Then work will continue on the second viaduct and the west side of the cycle path.
In autumn 2026, the redesign of Stokhasseltlaan will also start, so that it safely connects to the new cycle path. Completion is planned for the end of 2026. The recropassage is expected to open before early 2027.
Why a recropassage?
The recropassage allows animals such as the tree frog, roe deer, and badger to safely move from one nature area to another. At the same time, it creates an attractive and safe route for walkers and cyclists between Tilburg and Waalwijk.
The recropassage is an initiative of the municipality of Tilburg, the province of North Brabant, Natuurmonumenten, and the Efteling. These parties jointly fund the project. With this project, Tilburg is working on expanding habitats for animals and improving connections for recreational users.