Green light for ZuidasDok
The National Government, the City of Amsterdam, Stadsregio Amsterdam and the province of Noord-Holland have announced new project plans for the expansion of the Zuidas and its transport infrastructure.
The future of the Zuidas
The ZuidasDok project is expected to enter its construction phase in 2015. It will provide expansion of the A10 motorway along the southern edge of Amsterdam. This will include widening the road to add more traffic lanes, as well as operating that section of the motorway via underground tunnels. This will create space for the development and growth of the Amsterdam Zuid railway station – the fastest growing in the Netherlands.
The Zuidas is already one of the most economically important areas in the Randstad. With this new investment it can continue to grow over the coming decades, evolving into a new city centre that blends together (international) business headquarters with shopping areas and residential zones.
Improving rail links
Expansion of the Amsterdam Zuid railway station is regarded as essential in order to increase the flow of rail passengers on the popular Schiphol-Amsterdam-Almere-Lelystad corridor. Over the coming years the frequency of trains on this route will be increased substantially. Instead of 12 trains per hour, there will be 20 to 24 trains per hour. This will result in an increase from 95,000 to 130,000 rails passengers per day.
A better quality of life
The expansion of the A10 motorway with a new underground section is expected to provide a great boost to the quality of life in the Zuidas area. The development will improve air quality and also reduce noise pollution from traffic. It will also create more space for residential development in the area. Moreover, it would bring the two halves of the district together, creating an area where living, working and shopping environments exist closely together. The presence of the university and its students will also ensure that the Zuidas remains a strong and vibrant centre of knowledge.
Alderperson Maarten van Poelgeest of the City of Amsterdam said: “Our solutions for the ZuidasDok will cost half as much than if already implemented a few years ago. Despite the broader financial crisis, we must ensure to invest in the economic strength of Amsterdam and the Netherlands. We are not only investing in the city of the future, but the viability of the Zuidas in the present.”
Financing the future
The project is expected to cost 1.4 billion euros in total. The National Government will invest 979 million euros, the City of Amsterdam 201 million euros, Stadsregio Amsterdam 130 million, and the province of Noord-Holland 75 million euros. Construction is expected to begin in 2015, with the trains, buses and metro due to function as normal. The tunnels for the new A10 motorway section will be created alongside the current road infrastructure, meaning traffic in the region need not be disrupted by road or lane closures.
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