The A2 at Maastricht is an important route for through traffic to and from Belgium and Germany. This section of the A2 passes through Maastricht and leads to heavy traffic there. The 'Green Ribbon' project by the Avenue 2 consortium is tackling this traffic issue and melding the city of Maastricht into a unified whole once more.
Unified plan for city and freeway
The 'Green ribbon' project is an integrated regional design, an overall plan for city, freeway, cyclists, pedestrians, motorists, residents, companies, employees and business partners.
The 'Green Ribbon' project consists of:
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complete link-up between A2 and A79
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new link road between A2/A79 and the Beatrixhaven industrial site
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the 'Green Ribbon': a green, recreational strip for cyclists and pedestrians that winds from Vaeshartelt through Maastricht to Céramique
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large capacity for traffic underground: a stacked tunnel system with 2x2 tunnels over a length of 2.3 kilometres
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Above the tunnel a quiet, socially safe avenue, intended purely for local traffic
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a building plan of flair and flexibility that meshes naturally with the current quality of the surroundings
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retention of the Gemeenteflat building on Koningsplein
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tree-lined green entrances to the city, Hertog van Brabant (Geusselt) and Prinsbisschop van Luik (Europaplein)
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the landgoederenzone (estates zone) is to be revitalised and made accessible via an unusual cycle bridge over the A2
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use of tested construction techniques
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good accessibility during building works: one-off diversion of the A2
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the tunnel construction train moves like a caterpillar along the route of the tunnel from south to north
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sustainable solution to the air and noise issues that is geared to the future, partly by means of the long tunnel and the staggered tunnel openings
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boost to local job opportunities (the A2 school (Dutch text only))
Intensive cooperation
The national government and the region are working intensively together on the project. In addition, the market has been involved in planning for this project at an early stage. The Avenue2 consortium is a combination of:
Avenue2 is being supported by ARCADIS Nederland, West8 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture, dGmR and Bex*communicatie, among others.
Further information
For further information, see www.a2maastricht.nl (Dutch text only) or www.avenue2.nl (Dutch text only). Or watch the video 'De Groene Loper' on YouTube.