Highways minister breaks congested freeway logjams

THE HAGUE – Highways minister Camiel Eurlings, who is leaving Dutch politics for a return to private life, has successfully broken up formidable political logjams to introduce his rush hour lanes concept. A less stringent approach to environmental and other requirements cleared the way to the minister’s so-called spitsstroken. The lanes are built on the paved freeway shoulders which until now served only as emergency lanes for stranded motorists and bypasses for emergency vehicles. Those rush hour lanes already completed have dramatically reduced the slow moving congested traffic, especially benefiting the freight transportation industry. Commuters also cut time on the road. There are several rush hours lanes being completed, designed with noise barriers and wildlife viaducts.