In the Drechtsteden and Alblasserwaard regions, investments will be made in mobility and infrastructure around the A15 in the coming years. This is necessary because the region faces major maintenance and renovation projects, traffic disruptions, and increased road congestion. Municipalities, the Province of South Holland, Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar, Waterschap Rivierenland, and the national government are working together to improve accessibility and smoother traffic flow on the A15 between Papendrecht and Gorinchem.
The measures, such as investments in (shared) cycling infrastructure, park & ride facilities, bike paths, and amenities at public transport stops and hubs, aim to make it more attractive to avoid rush hour or leave the car behind. The improvement marks the start of a long-term collaboration (2026-2035) between the national government, the Drechtsteden region, the municipalities of Dordrecht, Gorinchem, Molenlanden, the Province of South Holland, Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar, and Waterschap Rivierenland.
Jeroen van Dijken, deputy of the Province of South Holland: “Accessibility of the Drechtsteden and Alblasserwaard is under pressure and there are many maintenance projects in the region. This will cause significant traffic disruptions. This approach helps residents and entrepreneurs concerned about congestion, traffic jams, and roadworks in the region. By investing now, the inconvenience is minimized and the region remains accessible.”
€ 16 million in investments
Because the study into widening the A15 is currently on hold, the national government, municipalities, province, and Waterschap have signed a governance agreement for the infrastructural measures.
In total, €16 million will be invested around the A15 between Papendrecht and Gorinchem to improve accessibility and traffic flow. Of this, €8.5 million is invested in a medium-term approach for the A15, focusing on less disruption and alternatives to the car, such as cycling, park & ride, and public mobility.
Supporting this approach, €7.5 million is invested in small infrastructural measures, such as the construction of bike paths to public transport stops, shared cycling infrastructure, amenities at stops, hubs, park & rides, and missing links in the F15 cycling route.
Working together to reduce disruption
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has commissioned Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar to work on more trip and rush hour avoidance for the medium-term A15 approach. Agreements are being made with employers, logistics companies, and public attractors. This approach aligns with Rijkswaterstaat’s less disruption measures during maintenance projects in the region.
To support this, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is providing €7.5 million for small, supporting measures such as bike paths and hubs. The municipality of Dordrecht will realize these small, regional infrastructural measures in cooperation with municipalities, the water board, and the province, and will submit a subsidy application to the national government in the first quarter of 2026. This supports the medium-term approach 2026-2035. The agreements are laid down in the governance agreement.