A32 Closed at Grou Aqueduct Over Falling Glass
The A32 highway between Grou and Akkrum in Friesland has been closed in both directions since Thursday evening at 9 p.m. after inspections revealed that glass plates from 84 light fixtures in the Aquaduct Mid-Fryslân could fall onto the roadway, LC.nl reported. Rijkswaterstaat, the Dutch national road authority, ordered the precautionary closure and warned that repairs could take days, with the stretch possibly remaining shut through the entire weekend.
The aqueduct carries the A32 beneath the Prinses Margrietkanaal, and each of its 42 fixtures per direction contains glass panels that inspectors found to be loose, NOS reported. Emergency services can still pass through using narrow emergency lanes that run beneath sections without overhead lights, but all other traffic must detour via Drachten over the N31 and A7, Rijkswaterstaat stated.
Traffic Rerouted via Drachten While Emergency Services Keep Access
Drivers traveling between Leeuwarden and Heerenveen must now follow the detour through Drachten, adding travel time to a route that normally connects Leeuwarden, Heerenveen and Meppel, NOS noted. The A32 at the aqueduct near Grou remains closed to general traffic, but Grou is still reachable from Leeuwarden via the A32 and Akkrum remains accessible from the Heerenveen direction.
Repairs Could Last Through the Weekend
Contractors will use cherry pickers to remove the glass plates or entire light fixtures, work that Rijkswaterstaat spokesperson Jayme Tol said could take the whole weekend. “Hopefully we can repair things as quickly as possible, but it’s hard to say now,” Tol told LC.nl on Thursday evening. The authority is investigating whether only the loose glass needs removal or if full fixtures must come down, NOS reported.
Second Incident at the Aqueduct This Fall
The problem first surfaced a few months ago when several fixtures shed glass onto the carriageway toward Leeuwarden, forming a hazard for traffic, LC.nl reported. Thursday afternoon inspections prompted Rijkswaterstaat to act quickly, and the authority has ordered all fixtures—or at least all the glass—removed immediately. Because no replacement materials are on hand, the A32 at Grou will likely need another extended closure later, and the aqueduct could remain dark after the weekend, the authority warned.
Questions Drivers Are Asking About the A32 Closure
How long will the A32 stay closed? The exact duration is not yet known, NOS reported, though Rijkswaterstaat warned the closure could last the entire weekend and repairs may take days.
Can emergency vehicles still use the A32? Yes, emergency services can continue through the aqueduct using specific traffic measures and narrow emergency lanes that have no lights above them, Rijkswaterstaat confirmed.
Will the aqueduct be dark after repairs? Rijkswaterstaat said the lighting will not work after the weekend, and the authority may install large temporary lamps and warning signs along the road to alert drivers well before the aqueduct.
The A32 serves as a vital north–south artery in the Netherlands, linking Leeuwarden to Heerenveen and onward to Meppel, which makes this closure a significant disruption for Friesland’s road network, NOS noted.
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