The planned Groningen Ring Zuid project now looks likely to cost more than originally estimated. Work started on the project in 2016 and should take until 2024 to complete. Originally the project was expected to cost €435 million but an agreement has been reached over the work that the maximum pricetag could now be allowed to reach €552 million. The work is being carried out by contractor Combinatie Herepoort (CHP), which will pay a portion of the extra cost while the Province of Groningen will provide an additional €78 million.
However, planned widening work for the busy A12 and A15 routes now looks to have been blocked. Questions have been raised over the expected emissions levels resulting from these road projects and the way these have been determined. The work has been blocked by the State Council as a result. Costing €1.4 billion, the A15 highway alignment traverses the Rijntakken nature reserve, giving rise to some environmental pressures.
