Leiden Ring North requires intensive cooperation

The Leiden Ring North; one of the largest inner-city infrastructure projects today. Dozens of specialists are working behind the scenes to make this work a success. Challenging? "Definitely," think project director Jan Smit (Leiden municipality) and project manager Peter van Kampen (Antea Group): "But, when you work together with heart and soul, you achieve unsuspected results."

Leiden and Leiderdorp will spend the next five years working on the design, integration and implementation of the Leidse Ring Noord. The northern section of the Leidse Ring must soon guide through traffic around Leiden's city center and the center of Leiderdorp. The project, which consists of five sections, pays particular attention to creating more space for cyclists and pedestrians as well as a greener living environment. Result: less car traffic in the residential areas and a livable, accessible city. 

Two worlds

"With this you immediately address the biggest challenge," Smit explains. "In Leidse Ring Noord, two worlds come together: that of infra and urban planning. One is about road widening, new tunnels and intersections. The other is about its integration: partly in urban, partly in rural areas. How do you achieve a ring road that functions well and adds value to its surroundings?"

That puzzle is not easy. Smit: "You are working in an area where every meter counts. In addition, we set the bar high when it comes to the environment: they have an important voice in the design. You want to see their wishes and requirements translated into a plan that everyone can move forward with."

This starts with good interplay between urban planning and road design. Smit: "You often see tension at this interface. Where one needs space for a traffic circle, the other has thought up trees. The big question is: how do you deal with this? Do you stay focused on your idea, or do you work together to come up with a better solution?" 

Top Sports

The latter requires an environment where you recognize each other's interests and reinforce each other. "This is easy to say. But it is top sport to organize projects of this scale well and ensure that everyone is maximally involved. Especially since we do the studies, environmental management and contract management in addition to the design. Everything has to coincide logically," says Peter van Kampen of engineering and consultancy firm Antea Group. 

Antea Group, which develops and prepares the reference design, plays a connecting role in this. Van Kampen: "We don't just come and tell you how everything should be done. We are looking for partnership. We also indicate this to the municipal engineering office. Their local knowledge is indispensable; we do not detract from that. By adding our expertise, you arrive at better solutions." 

Antea Group also chose to engage an external urban planning firm. Van Kampen: "With Jeroen Mensink of JAM* architects, we have an experienced urban planner on board who continuously keeps us on our toes." That interaction is excellent, Smit observes. "Take the Plesmanlaan route, for example. That in such a complicated environment you still come up with a design that fits in beautifully and carefully. We have received compliments for it from the city council, the surrounding area and the Cyclists' Union."

In any case, the preparation went smoothly. Within two years the implementation designs for four of the five sections were drawn up and approved. Smit: "This is to the credit of all those people who together want to leave something beautiful behind for Leiden and Leiderdorp. From that motivation we continue to work together: because there is still a lot to do in the coming years."