Sappi and construction Verlengde Maasboulevard
This location lies near the Bassin and along the Zuid Willemsvaart up to the Fransensingel. It concerns the southwestern corner of the Sappi terrain, which currently houses a parking lot and some buildings. On the east side, the paper factory is still located.
The plans
Car traffic
In 2020, we bought a part of the Sappi terrain on the southwest side. By doing so, we can extend the Maasboulevard towards the Fransensingel, relieving traffic off Bassinbrug. The area around the Bassinbrug and Boschstraat will become less car-centric, improving the overall quality of life in this area.
Public transport
Op 17 december 2024, the municipal council decided that buses would also stop crossing the Bassin Bridge and instead use the new road, the Verlengde Maasboulevard. This means that no motorized traffic will use the bridge anymore. This transition will take place after 2032, when the new concession starts.
Housing
New housing developments can be initiated on the terrain at the corner of the Bassin and Zuid Willemsvaart (currently the empty parking lot).
Possibilities for the Bassin Bridge
Once buses are rerouted via the Extended Maasboulevard, new possibilities arise for the Bassinbrug. We are currently investigating what options there are for the bridge, primarily focusing on bicycle and pedestrian routes. A decision by the municipal council is expected in December 2025. Three options are being considered:
- The current bridge is "greened" and transformed into a dedicated bicycle and pedestrian bridge
- The current bridge is demolished, and a new, narrower bicycle-pedestrian bridge is built
- The bridge is demolished, and no replacement is constructed.
Planning
Following the decision of the city council, the design for the Verlengde Maasboulevard will be updated in 2026. The tender procedure will then follow in 2026 and 2027 with the goal of completing the road by 2031. Construction is preliminarily scheduled to begin in 2027.
Presentatie Onderzoek Bassinbrug (dutch only)