Makeover for Westersingel and Pier Panderstraat
We are giving Westersingel and Pier Panderstraat a makeover. This is necessary because the asphalt of the road is deteriorating. We also want to reduce the speed limit from 50 to 30 km per hour.
Activities
The aim of redeveloping Westersingel and Pier Panderstraat is to reduce the speed to 30 kilometres per hour. The driving lane will be narrower and the cycle lanes wider. Crossings at Molenstraat and Fonteinstraat will be improved. The existing trees are being replaced because they are not growing well. New trees will be planted on both sides of the street. Space will be kept on the quay for parking and more greenery. There will be a footpath on the quay under the trees and among the greenery along the city canal.
Replacement and reinforcement of sections of the quay wall
As well as the refurbishment, part of the quay wall will also be replaced and another part strengthened. This is necessary because on these sections the piles under the quay wall have been damaged. As a result, they are no longer strong enough to support the quay wall.
Finalised design
In March 2023, the local authority’s project group, together with 15 representatives from both streets (a sounding board group), started work on a design for the two streets. Three meetings with the focus group and several surveys culminated in a preliminary design.
This preliminary design for the redevelopment of Westersingel and Pier Panderstraat was presented to the district on 12 June 2024 in community building De Remise. The local authority finalised its design based on the comments of local residents.
Work schedule
The redevelopment of the Westersingel and Pier Panderstraat will take until the end of this year. We will carry out the work in phases:
Work on the quay wall
The work on the quay wall is practically done. Only the last part across from the exit from Elizabethstraat remains. This work will be carried out over the coming weeks.
Phase 1: Pier Panderstraat
This phase is almost complete. The street will reopen to traffic on Monday 7 July. The top asphalt layer will not be applied right away. This be done later in September.
Phase 2: Pier Panderstraat to the mini roundabout at Molenstraat
This section will be opened up for traffic again from 6 October. At that point, this phase of redevelopment will not yet be entirely complete. The paving along the quay will be laid in November. The parking spaces will therefore not yet be available, and the houseboats will not be able to return until late 2025.
Phase 3: Fonteinstraat to Tesselschadestraat
This phase starts on 6 October. This part of Westersingel will be closed during this period. Traffic will be detoured via the diversion routes. The work will continue until 19 December. The exit from Elizabethstraat on the Tesselschadestraat side will remain open as much as possible. This exit will only be closed from 27 October to 7 November.
Phase 4: Westersingel 2-4 (cycling path near Mient de Vries)
Construction of the bicycle street has begun. This will continue until Friday, 17 October. This part of Westersingel will be closed for this period. Westerparkstaete car park will remain open. More details on this phase will follow during the course of the year.
Trees and plants
After the construction work is done, trees and plants will be planted. This will be done between 1 December 2025 and 1 April 2026.
Information meeting
On 16 April, we organised an information meeting at the Remise. You were given the opportunity to ask questions about implementation and the final schedule.
Road closure
During the works, Pier Panderstraat and Westersingel will be completely closed. A walking route will remain available from Molenstraat to the Vrouwenpoortsbrug. The diversions will be signposted.
Buses
During the works, buses cannot stop at Westersingel and Pier Panderstraat. Most buses will run temporarily along Ruiterskwartier in the city centre.
Newsletter
A newsletter was sent to local residents in early April.
Bat Measures
Measures will be taken during the works to protect the flight route of bats.
- Temporary measures: Replacement flight routes with trees, bat poles and screens.
- Permanent measures: Planting elms for a permanent flight route.
- Ecological supervision: Log of findings from field visits.
Activities
The aim of redeveloping Westersingel and Pier Panderstraat is to reduce the speed to 30 kilometres per hour. The driving lane will be narrower and the cycle lanes wider. Crossings at Molenstraat and Fonteinstraat will be improved. The existing trees are being replaced because they are not growing well. New trees will be planted on both sides of the street. Space will be kept on the quay for parking and more greenery. There will be a footpath on the quay under the trees and among the greenery along the city canal.
Replacement and reinforcement of sections of the quay wall
As well as the refurbishment, part of the quay wall will also be replaced and another part strengthened. This is necessary because on these sections the piles under the quay wall have been damaged. As a result, they are no longer strong enough to support the quay wall.
Finalised design
In March 2023, the local authority’s project group, together with 15 representatives from both streets (a sounding board group), started work on a design for the two streets. Three meetings with the focus group and several surveys culminated in a preliminary design.
This preliminary design for the redevelopment of Westersingel and Pier Panderstraat was presented to the district on 12 June 2024 in community building De Remise. The local authority finalised its design based on the comments of local residents.
Work schedule
The redevelopment of the Westersingel and Pier Panderstraat will take until the end of this year. We will carry out the work in phases:
Work on the quay wall
The work on the quay wall is practically done. Only the last part across from the exit from Elizabethstraat remains. This work will be carried out over the coming weeks.
Phase 1: Pier Panderstraat
This phase is almost complete. The street will reopen to traffic on Monday 7 July. The top asphalt layer will not be applied right away. This be done later in September.
Phase 2: Pier Panderstraat to the mini roundabout at Molenstraat
This section will be opened up for traffic again from 6 October. At that point, this phase of redevelopment will not yet be entirely complete. The paving along the quay will be laid in November. The parking spaces will therefore not yet be available, and the houseboats will not be able to return until late 2025.
Phase 3: Fonteinstraat to Tesselschadestraat
This phase starts on 6 October. This part of Westersingel will be closed during this period. Traffic will be detoured via the diversion routes. The work will continue until 19 December. The exit from Elizabethstraat on the Tesselschadestraat side will remain open as much as possible. This exit will only be closed from 27 October to 7 November.
Phase 4: Westersingel 2-4 (cycling path near Mient de Vries)
Construction of the bicycle street has begun. This will continue until Friday, 17 October. This part of Westersingel will be closed for this period. Westerparkstaete car park will remain open. More details on this phase will follow during the course of the year.
Trees and plants
After the construction work is done, trees and plants will be planted. This will be done between 1 December 2025 and 1 April 2026.
Information meeting
On 16 April, we organised an information meeting at the Remise. You were given the opportunity to ask questions about implementation and the final schedule.
Road closure
During the works, Pier Panderstraat and Westersingel will be completely closed. A walking route will remain available from Molenstraat to the Vrouwenpoortsbrug. The diversions will be signposted.
Buses
During the works, buses cannot stop at Westersingel and Pier Panderstraat. Most buses will run temporarily along Ruiterskwartier in the city centre.
Newsletter
A newsletter was sent to local residents in early April.
Bat Measures
Measures will be taken during the works to protect the flight route of bats.
- Temporary measures: Replacement flight routes with trees, bat poles and screens.
- Permanent measures: Planting elms for a permanent flight route.
- Ecological supervision: Log of findings from field visits.