When doubling the N34 between Coevorden and the Holsloot junction and the approach to the Emmen-west junction, the province cannot use its own sand that would be extracted near the Huttenheugte in Dalen. That is why sand has to be bought for 5 million euros.
PS agree to expensive tuition fee
The cause of this is an ongoing lawsuit over the sand extraction at the Huttenheugte. A resident fears inconvenience and went to court. So the province had to buy the sand for the doubling on the sand market. Additional costs: 5 million euros.
The Provincial Council has no doubt: the extra 5 million has been agreed. The work has progressed so far that there is no going back. “A small setback with major consequences,” says Roy Pruisscher of the ChristenUnie. “We have not done our homework as a province,” concludes SP member Wim Moinat.
Idea was smart: work-with-work
The sand extraction at the Huttenheugte was conceived as making smart work-with-work. And cheaper. Recreation park de Huttenheugte of Centerparcs would like to expand its recreational lake in order to obtain cleaner swimming and fishing water. The province needed sand and the Heuttenheugte is close to the N34. Why not start extracting sand yourself close to home, instead of buying it more expensive? Because a local resident is blocking it, 5 million euros worth of sand has now been bought from other suppliers for the doubling of the N34.
Forum for Democracy States member Harry Omlo does wonder when sand can be extracted at the Huttenheugte. Deputy Cees Bijl does not know, it is up to the judge. The answer to that question is important for the solution that Bijl has come up with: later extracting sand at the Huttenheugte for the modification of the N34 at Klijndijk, the N391 ring road Emmen and work at Emmerschans. Then you get the cost advantage of your own sand for those projects.
Actually it is not 5 but 7 million
In the meantime, the tear in the pants is not 5 but 7 million euros, conclude Thea Potharst of the Party for the Animals and Annigje Udinga of the VVD. “For the Huttenheugte 2 million in costs have already been incurred, of which 1 million for a contractor and land acquisition for the temporary sand depot.” Bijl: “We have paid the necessary tuition fees and we will check three times at the next work tender whether the sand is actually available.”
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