Quatrebras intersection

The design of intersection Quatrebras was created in close cooperation between the province and the municipality of Tytsjerksteradiel. The province is tackling the Rijksstraatweg (N355) including the entire intersection and bus stops. The municipality is responsible for Oude Commissieweg and Woudweg.

Based on your input, we explored two possible solutions. An intersection with traffic lights and a traffic circle. For an intersection with traffic lights, we will convert the current intersection into a more compact one with modern traffic lights. This will reduce the amount of time traffic has to wait.

A traffic circle did not appear to have sufficient capacity, especially at peak times. The other option for this would then be a turborotonde. A turborotonde is a traffic circle with double lanes. For a turborotonde, we need a lot of land and fitting in with the surroundings is more difficult. In addition, a turborotonde makes it more difficult to create a safe crossing for etchers.

The options have been examined and based on traffic capacity, neighborhood desires, spatial fit and cost, we are moving forward with the design of an intersection with traffic lights.

In the design, we tried to eliminate unnecessary pavement. We are making the intersection more compact with a minimum required number of lanes. Around the intersection we are also addressing the parallel roads, sidewalks and frontage roads.

Modifying the intersection will create more space to address the bus stops. In the current situation, the bus stops are scattered around the intersection. We will move the bus stops and place them closer together. This will promote convenience when transferring from one bus to another. 

Crossing bicyclists in wrong and unsafe places has been a major concern you have brought to us. By addressing the intersection we are trying to get cyclists to safely cross at the intersection via the traffic lights. On the west side of the Woudweg we are clearing part of the parallel road. In this way we want to discourage cyclists from crossing at the Woudweg. We cannot prevent this entirely. That is why we are constructing a new crossing for cyclists and pedestrians on the west side of the intersection. This will also allow pedestrians to cross safely between the new bus stops. We convert a number of parallel roads into bicycle paths. Between the intersection and the traffic circle we create a traffic island to prevent crossing by cyclists. A traffic island is a raised separation between two lanes of traffic.

The parallel roads are regularly used by stealth traffic to cut off the traffic lights. We will solve this by changing the parallel roads around the intersection into bike paths. The parallel roads along Rijksstraatweg will remain, except for a small section on the north side (seen from Quatrebras) to remove through traffic. On Oude Commissieweg and Woudweg we choose to partly clear the parallel roads and partly convert them into bike paths. The adjacent plots will then have an exit on the main road. Near the businesses on the Woudweg we have chosen to maintain a number of sections as parallel roads. On the drawing the parallel roads are indicated with an orange color. At the carpool site we will remove one exit. The carpool area itself will not be changed.

As indicated earlier, the Forest Road and Old Commission Road are municipal roads. For these sections of road, it is important to note that the design presented here is our desired image for the final situation. The municipality is working hard to secure funding for this. We expect to be able to give you more clarity on this during 2021.

The reconstruction of the intersection and connecting roads also prompts us to address the sewer system. This involves replacing sewers, installing rainwater pipes and disconnecting rainwater from homes and roads. The measures will be combined as much as possible with the redesign of the roads. This depends on the financing and planning of the municipal part. As soon as this is clear, we will inform you.

Vitens is replacing all drinking water pipes -between the intersection Quatrebras and Noardburgum- at the end of February 2021. The work will start on the Quatrebras side. Along the northern parallel road the work is most noticeable and visible. When the work is finished Vitens will connect the houses on this section to this new pipeline. This requires the water to be temporarily shut off in your home or business. Residents will be informed at least one day in advance by Vitens with a card in their mailbox. Vitens will consult directly with surrounding businesses about when and for how long the water can be temporarily shut off. If you have questions about this, please contact Peter Mulder 06-10471418 or Nico Gaal 06-51158859 of Vitens.