Launch of public campaign for renovation of Papendrecht Bridge

Published on: 25 March 2026, 16:27

In three months, starting Friday 17 July 2026, the Papendrecht Bridge will be closed to all road traffic for nine months for the renovation of the movable section.

On Wednesday 25 March, Rijkswaterstaat in Dordrecht, together with regional administrators from the Drechtsteden, launched a public campaign in collaboration with Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar.

Significant disruption expected in Drechtsteden and Alblasserwaard

The coming years will see significant disruption in the Drechtsteden and Alblasserwaard due to a large number of construction projects, including in the adjacent Rotterdam region, with the renewal of the Van Brienenoord Bridge being the most significant.

During the meeting, administrators urged residents and businesses to opt for alternatives such as cycling or public transport where possible to maintain accessibility in the area.

Public campaign

With the public campaign, we aim to make residents and commuters in the Drechtsteden and Alblasserwaard aware of the disruption caused by the closure of the Papendrecht Bridge and to inform them of alternatives. Over the coming months, residents, businesses, and commuters will see campaign messages on social media and in public spaces.

The campaign highlights two sides of the issue: road users who temporarily cannot use the bridge and construction workers who are temporarily working on it. All messages end with the new slogan from Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar: ‘Stuck or moving along, what will you do?’.

Significant disruption expected in Drechtsteden and around Rotterdam

Adri de Groot, Director of Network Management at Rijkswaterstaat

‘Rijkswaterstaat is aware that the renovation of the Papendrecht Bridge and upcoming renovations of bridges and tunnels in the Drechtsteden region will have a major impact on accessibility.’

‘Not only in the Drechtsteden, but also in and around Rotterdam, we will be working intensively in the coming years. For these renovations, in collaboration with Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar, we will provide alternative travel options. This will limit the additional travel time on the motorway for those who have no alternative, such as truck drivers, to a maximum of 60 minutes.’

‘We are working closely with municipalities, the safety region, and businesses. The impact is significant, but the work is necessary to prepare the infrastructure for the future. We will keep residents and businesses well informed in the coming period and ask for understanding and cooperation from (water) road users and employers to keep the region as accessible as possible.’

Ramon Pardo, Chair of the Mobility and Accessibility Administrative Consultation Smart Delta Drechtsteden

‘Together with Rijkswaterstaat, Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar, the safety region, and our municipalities, we are working intensively on a coherent package of measures, both on the road and on the water. Think of extra public transport services, the water bus, cycling promotion, and smart traffic distribution.’

‘But let’s be honest: no matter how well we organise this as governments, it will only work if residents, commuters, and employers actually make different choices. That’s why our call is clear: take a critical look at your travel behaviour. Can you travel differently? At a different time? Or perhaps not travel at all? Every adjustment helps.’

Arno Janssen, Alderman for Traffic, Transport & Water Management in Papendrecht

‘The accessibility of Papendrecht will come under pressure during the closure of the Papendrecht Bridge. We are concerned about this. Fortunately, traffic disruption on roads within Papendrecht appears to be relatively limited, according to calculations.’

‘What we are seeing, however, is extra and much longer traffic jams than usual on both the A16 from Brabant and Rotterdam and the A15 between Gorinchem and Rotterdam. This puts the accessibility of Papendrecht and the region under pressure.’

The measures by Rijkswaterstaat and Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar aim not only to limit travel time but also to offer travel alternatives at significantly reduced fares. This applies to both our residents and employees. Leave the car at home as much as possible and choose cycling, the water bus, the ferry, or public transport. Only together can we limit, though not prevent, the disruption.’

Joost Veldman, Alderman for Mobility, Accessibility, and Infrastructure in Dordrecht

‘The Papendrecht Bridge needs maintenance. That is clear and highly relevant for all cyclists and motorists in Dordrecht and the region. We expect significant disruption, especially in the first few weeks, due to congestion, traffic jams, and rat running. Dordrecht has a central function in the region.’

‘That’s why our regional facilities must remain accessible, such as schools, the hospital, sports and cultural venues, businesses, and the city centre with shops, hospitality, and events. Dordtenaren must be able to leave the island, and people from Sliedrecht, Papendrecht, and Gorinchem must be able to reach the hospital, the ice rink, or one of the many events Dordrecht has to offer, such as Big Rivers.’

‘We know it will be tough, especially at the start of the project and in September. But if we all make the most of options such as cycling more, carpooling, and smart use of public transport, we’ll get through it. I am convinced of that.’

Jacob Klink, Chair of Employers’ Association Drechtsteden

‘Keeping the region accessible is not a problem Rijkswaterstaat can solve for employers. However, employers who actively manage working hours, remote working, and mobility can work with Rijkswaterstaat to find a solution. We have launched a ‘mobility factory’ as employers to actively collaborate. It can only be done together.’

More information on the Papendrecht Bridge renovation

Do you have questions or comments about this renovation? Visit the project page N3: Papendrecht Bridge renovation, the page Drechtsteden, the website of Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar, or contact us.