A6 bridge closure disrupts shipping on Scharsterrijn River due to mechanical failure
A faulty motor has rendered the Scharsterrijnbrug on the A6 near Joure and Lemmer temporarily unusable for vessels taller than 3.50 meters. Road traffic remains unaffected, but shipping must seek alternative routes, adding delays for businesses and travelers.
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Scharsterrijnbrug, A6 (Joure-Lemmer) |
| Issue | Faulty boom motor |
| Max clearance height | 3.50 meters |
| Impact on shipping | Vessels >3.50m must reroute |
| Impact on road traffic | None |
| Repair status | Not immediately feasible |
| Maintenance backlog | Nationwide infrastructure delays |
Rijkswaterstaat is responsible for managing and maintaining the Netherlands' critical infrastructure, including bridges, locks, and waterways. This incident highlights the challenges of balancing limited funding with the need to ensure safe and efficient transport networks.
Openrijk is free and ad-free
Do you value our work? Help us stay online with a small contribution.
external link to whydonate.comRead the full translated article below
Scharsterrijnbrug on Scharsterrijn River in A6 temporarily inaccessible due to faulty boom motor
Published on: March 27, 2026, 1:04 PM
Rijkswaterstaat is currently unable to operate the Scharsterrijnbrug on the A6 between Joure and Lemmer. The motor required to open and close the bridge’s barriers is malfunctioning. Each case is assessed individually to determine whether urgent repairs can be carried out. For the Scharsterrijnbrug, immediate repair is not feasible.
Impact on shipping at the Scharsterrijnbrug
As the bridge barriers cannot be opened or closed, a maximum clearance height of 3.50 m applies.
- Vessels taller than 3.50 m must take an alternative route.
- Vessels under 3.50 m can still pass through.
There are no restrictions for road traffic. The A6 remains open in both directions.
Major maintenance backlog
We manage and maintain a large portion of the Dutch infrastructure, including (water)ways, bridges, locks, and hydraulic structures. Many of these assets are in need of renovation or replacement.
Due to limited available funding, maintenance work must be carefully planned and prioritized. This means defects cannot always be addressed immediately. Where necessary, a situation is first made safe. We are doing everything possible to minimize disruption for road and waterway users.