Komkommerweg ontlast woonkernen in glastuingebied

In the municipality of Pijnacker-Nootdorp, work has been underway since last September on the construction of the Komkommerweg, a new arterial road for traffic to and from the Pijnacker West greenhouse area. A beautiful project for G. van der Ven BV Aannemingsbedrijf, not least because of two 'showpieces' that make the project extra special.

"The 900-meter-long new Komkommerweg is primarily intended to relieve the Pijnacker and Delfgauw cores of (freight) traffic and thus improve the livability and quality of life in these areas," said Robert Bruin, project manager for the municipality of Pijnacker-Nootdorp. "The new arterial road will be connected with a traffic circle to both the Delftsestraatweg and on the other side the N470. Next to the road will be a parallel road from the Delftsestraatweg up to and including the already existing Komkommerweg. The parallel road turns into a new bicycle connection that connects to the bicycle path along the N470 via a bicycle tunnel under the new Komkommerweg."

Two showpieces
Van der Ven is responsible for the construction of the new Komkommerweg, the parallel road, the bicycle tunnel as well as the construction of a traffic circle for the connection to the Delftsestraatweg, partly over the Delfgauwsevaart. According to company manager Cees van Oord, the bicycle tunnel and the traffic circle are two showpieces for the contracting company. "The bicycle tunnel is 300 meters long in total and makes a swing from left to right and a swing from top to bottom and back. The tunnel is being built dry in a construction pit which in turn is founded on over 300 piles. The deepest point is about 6 meters below ground level. Only this middle section will be provided with a concrete deck, over which the Cucumber Road will be constructed. We are currently in the process of pouring concrete. According to schedule, the tunnel will be opened for bicycle traffic at the beginning of July this year. The Cucumber Road will be put into use a month later. The road will be constructed in phases. A large part is already in place. The traffic circle over the Delfgauwsevaart is also making steady progress. We have driven steel sheet pile walls along the canal and built two concrete bridge abutments. On these, girders are placed over which part of the traffic circle cantilevers out. A beautiful sight in the final phase."

The bicycle tunnel is 300 meters long in total.

An important aspect within the entire project, according to Robert Bruin, is that the surrounding area be inconvenienced as little as possible by the work, despite the fact that it is taking place in the middle of a populated and busy greenhouse area. "In the tender, the municipality stated that two (and preferably three) of the total of four main connecting routes should remain intact for all traffic during the works." Cees van Oord adds: "So far that's working out quite well. Nevertheless, the planning requires quite a bit of attention. We also have to take into account the reconstruction of the N470, work on which has recently started. We expect to be able to deliver the entire project in early August."