Published on: December 8, 2025, 09:58 AM
Construction of the new Gerrit Krol Bridge will begin in 2026. As a result, the bridge will be unusable for two to three years from late 2026/early 2027. In this article, we explain the measures Rijkswaterstaat and the municipality of Groningen are taking for the detour routes.
Detour routes Gerrit Krol Bridge
The Gerrit Krol Bridge is an important connection in Groningen. Therefore, extensive research was conducted on an alternative connection (including the Busbaan Bridge) for cyclists and pedestrians during the construction of the new bridge. Unfortunately, this is not feasible and one must detour via the Noordzeebrug or Oostersluis.
This has caused many reactions regarding detour time, problems for pedestrians and people with disabilities, but also about social and traffic safety on the detour routes.
We understand these reactions. That is why we are currently holding talks with various parties to gain insight into what is happening. Rijkswaterstaat and the municipality of Groningen incorporate these into a plan with measures to improve social and traffic safety on detour routes.
Discussions with schools, entrepreneurs and residents
We talk with primary schools ’t Karrepad and Sint Franciscus, secondary school Wessel Gansfort, the Food Bank, childcare Monkey Donky and other organizations near the bridge. In these discussions, we address bottlenecks on the detour routes and hear about new problems or concerns.
Together we look for solutions and coordinate how to communicate about this, both before and during the construction of the new Gerrit Krol Bridge. We also look together at how to help vulnerable groups, as they may be more affected by the loss of the bridge.
Social safety
By ‘social safety’ we mean that everyone feels safe on the detour routes. Also in the dark or when the street is quiet. Social safety consists of various components, such as overview and good visibility of the route, good lighting, a route that feels pleasant and does not cause nuisance.
Together with a social safety expert, we cycle the detour routes at different times of the day. We look at which places feel socially unsafe on the detour routes. Then we draw up measures. In spring 2026, we will share measures on our website. If you have ideas to further improve social safety, we would like to hear them.
Traffic safety
About 16,000 people cycle over the Gerrit Krol Bridge every day. When the bridge can no longer be used, all these cyclists will use the detour routes. This makes it much busier there. Therefore, we look at how to make the routes smooth and traffic-safe for all those extra cyclists.
Last spring, together with the (residents) Platform Gerrit Krol Bridge, including residents’ organizations, Accessibility Groningen Working Group and the Cyclists’ Union, we investigated where the traffic bottlenecks on the detour routes are. We made a round over the routes together and looked at priority situations, intersections, traffic lights and crossings.
Rijkswaterstaat and the municipality of Groningen are now working out these bottlenecks in a plan with measures to improve traffic safety. Think, for example, of larger/more clear waiting areas for cyclists at traffic lights, longer green lights for cyclists at traffic lights, reducing car speed to 30 km/h and adjusting crossings.
Want to know which bottlenecks are being investigated? Then check the frequently asked questions.
Outlook
In the coming months, we will further develop the measures to improve traffic and social safety. We continue to talk with schools, entrepreneurs and residents so that together we come to concrete solutions. This ensures that the detour routes are improved before construction begins, so everyone can travel safely.
Visit us on December 17, 2025
We welcome your input to improve the detour routes. Do you have suggestions, questions or concerns? Then contact us.
Rijkswaterstaat staff will be at the Gerrit Krol Bridge city side (corner Korreweg/Antillenstraat) on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Here you can enjoy free coffee, tea, hot chocolate and Groninger cookies and talk with us about the detour routes and share your questions or concerns. You are warmly welcome!
