Rijkswaterstaat has awarded the Major Variable Maintenance A16, A20, and A2 to Boskalis Netherlands. This concerns the A16 between junction Terbregseplein and Ridderkerk-Noord, the A20 between junction Westerlee and junction Gouwe, and the A2 between junction Deil and the Martinus Nijhoff bridge.
For this project, the so-called ‘front-runner approach’ has been applied. Companies are challenged to carry out the maintenance of the roads as sustainably as possible.
The work will be carried out between August 2025 and May 2027. From the summer of 2025, the asphalt in both directions will be replaced, the verges will be lowered, and guardrails will be replaced or repaired at various locations.
Additionally, expansion joints will be replaced and repair work on viaducts and bridges will be carried out. The work is expected to be completed by May 2027. Many activities are planned on or around the Rotterdam ring road. It is expected that the work will cause traffic disruptions, sometimes significant disruptions, including multi-day closures.
Tender for Major Variable Maintenance A16, A20, and A2
The A16, A20, and A2 are busy traffic arteries. In the tender, the disruption approach was therefore an important topic in determining the best price-quality ratio. Contractors were also challenged to propose sustainable asphalt mixtures for the work. Boskalis Netherlands emerged as the winner. The contract is worth approximately 54 million euros.
David Vermeire, Director Projects Boskalis Netherlands
‘We are proud to execute this extensive maintenance project on 3 major highways in one of the busiest regions of the Netherlands. Thanks to careful traffic management, we will work on the A20 not only on weekends but also during the week in 2026.
This not only ensures a safer execution of the work but also a better balance between work and rest times for our teams. This ultimately contributes to the quality of the work. In combination with the use of sustainable asphalt and the reuse of materials, we are making a future-proof contribution to Dutch infrastructure.’
Silvia van Waardenburg, Project Manager Rijkswaterstaat
‘Our challenges are significant, especially in our busy region with many works, but with Boskalis as a partner, we look forward to this project with confidence. They have proven expertise in the area of disruption reduction. Additionally, we at Rijkswaterstaat aim for high-quality sustainable pavements that Boskalis will apply in this project.’
Front-runner approach to sustainable road paving
As the largest road manager in the Netherlands, Rijkswaterstaat takes its responsibility in achieving climate goals. Therefore, we are transitioning to sustainable road paving, with the high-quality standards we are accustomed to in the Netherlands. On the way to climate-neutral and circular operations, Rijkswaterstaat is raising the sustainability bar for asphalt in tenders.
The front-runner approach aims to make investments in sustainable road pavings rewarding for companies. Therefore, we ensure that by 2030 every year in multiple projects, the most sustainable alternatives are given space. This way, sustainable front-runners can recoup their innovation and together with us contribute to the transition to a sustainable infrastructure sector.