Rijkswaterstaat manages a large part of the highways, tunnels, rivers, and bridges in the Netherlands. While many know they repair road damage and renovate old viaducts, fewer are aware that Rijkswaterstaat is also one of the largest nature managers in the country.
Strong Ground Through Plants
We manage and maintain over 18,000 hectares of roadside verges along highways. These verges are not only important for road safety but also serve as habitats for many wild plants and small animals.
A healthy verge, with a variety of plants and animals, contributes to safer road surfaces. The roots of plants hold the soil firmly. Without these roots, soil can wash away, leading to subsidence of the road foundation and potholes in the asphalt. Therefore, after an accident, the verge is inspected and, if necessary, reseeded with grass or other suitable vegetation.
Safety First, Also Room for Ecology
Peter Buijsman is an advisor for nature and green management at Rijkswaterstaat West Netherlands North. According to him, safety on and beside the road is paramount in his work, but he tries to look through a ‘green lens’ as much as possible. ‘The road is infrastructure for people, and the verge is that for plants and animals. We have to take that into account.
‘We prevent unsafe situations by pruning branches and shrubs that block the view of the road. We also cannot mow where, for example, ducks are nesting.’
In this way, we consider protected plants and animals, such as nesting birds. Before mowing or pruning, we inspect the verge. This is called an inspection. Sometimes we skip a mowing round; other times, we mow around the nesting birds.
Normally, we mow a verge once a year. But sometimes more often, for example, to prevent verge fires and to strengthen the turf near bridge abutments to protect structures from erosion.
Work Mainly at Night
Much of the maintenance of greenery along highways takes place at night to minimize disruption to traffic. Sometimes emergency lanes are closed off and speed limits apply. This is especially true when the first meter of the verge is mowed. These measures allow contractors to work safely.
Buijsman: ‘Often the work is hardly noticeable. It only becomes apparent if it doesn’t happen, when branches hang so low over the road that you can’t read signs. We try to prevent such situations.’ Nevertheless, some may still not be removed here and there. But we do our best by searching ourselves and responding to reports from road users.
