Merwedebrug closure disrupts Dutch freight, prompts fines and legal scrutiny

The Merwedebrug near Gorinchem has been closed to heavy vehicles after inspections revealed a weaker‑than‑expected steel structure. Rijkswaterstaat is installing automatic licence‑plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to enforce the ban, issuing €500 fines to trucks that ignore it.

To maintain passenger connections, extra night ferry services between Gorinchem and Sleeuwijk have been scheduled, running every 30 minutes throughout the evenings.

Transport and Logistics Netherlands (TLN) estimates the closure costs the freight sector around €1.5 million per day and is probing possible legal action against the authorities for alleged negligence.

Local businesses are also feeling the impact. The road‑side restaurant Napoleon, which relies on truck drivers for most of its customers, reports a sharp drop in revenue and seeks compensation.

The disruption adds to traffic pressure in the region, where Oosterhout is already coping with A27 road works and a temporary railway shutdown between Breda and Tilburg, further complicating logistics for commuters and freight operators.