Overview
- After inspections found multiple breaks in the steel lifting cables, the table bridge at Zuidhorn was raised and closed to all road users for safety.
- Rijkswaterstaat has ordered new cables and expects road access to remain suspended until at least late February 2026, possibly mid-March, citing supply delays over the holiday period.
- Two shuttle buses will operate next week, and a temporary scaffolding bridge for pedestrians and cyclists is planned shortly after New Year, expected to be about five meters high with walking required for bikes.
- A ferry option was ruled out as too slow to arrange and unsafe given heavy barge traffic and limited winter daylight.
- Similar cable issues were identified at Dorkwerd and Aduard, with Dorkwerd already out of service after a collision and Aduard remaining operational under close monitoring while the root cause is investigated.