Costs for renovating Amsterdam’s IJ and Piet Hein tunnels are higher than expected, Dutch media report.
Renovation of the Piet Hein Tunnel will cost €35 million more than the original €85 million budgeted.
However, cost for renovating the IJ Tunnel rose only €3.6 million over the planned more than budgeted €55.1 million.
Cost increases are due mainly to upgrading of fire safety systems, according to the media.
The 1km-long IJ Tunnel, which opened in 1968, is part of a nearly 1.7km system, including external ramps and access road, that runs under the IJ, a lake that forms the waterfront of Amsterdam. The tunnel connects Amsterdam’s north and south ring roads.
The 1.9km-long Piet Hein Tunnel, also running under the IJ, was opened in 1997 and runs east-west between the city centre and the A10 ring-road. Since May 2005 also provides a tram link between the Amsterdam Centraal railway station and Haveneiland, IJburg. It was named after the Dutch naval hero Piet Hein.
