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Freeze–Thaw Damage Forces Emergency Repairs on Dutch Roads

Crews are executing nightly emergency fixes after freeze–thaw cycles plus road salt undermined porous highway asphalt.

Overview

  • Rijkswaterstaat closed a full lane on the A50 between Vaassen and Epe to repair roughly twenty large holes found over a 5‑kilometre stretch, with work continuing into Friday.
  • The Province of Noord-Holland scheduled an overnight closure of the N244 at Westdijk in Alkmaar from Thursday 22:00 to Friday 05:00 for patching, with traffic detoured and bus line 123 rerouted.
  • Damage is also reported on Groningen routes managed by Rijkswaterstaat, including the A7 and A28, with additional issues on the N33 and a previously repaired meters‑long defect on the A32 near Wolvega.
  • Officials cite the vulnerability of ZOAB surfacing during freeze–thaw cycles, where trapped moisture expands into pores and dislodges stones, creating cracks and potholes.
  • Road authorities are using rapid temporary patches and immediate full repairs where necessary, urging drivers to slow down and report major defects via national and provincial hotlines.