The province is working on this with Rijkswaterstaat Noord-Nederland, the northern branch of the national roads and waterways authority. The extra lane will make it easier for traffic to leave the N33, reducing the risk of tailbacks on that road. The bus lane on the south side, leading to the Gieten public transport hub, will be extended so that buses can drive past the queues in the morning and evening rush hours. The province is still looking into whether a bus lane can also be added on the north side of the interchange.
At the Gieten exit, on the Oelenboom, there are now barriers to stop motorists jumping the queue on the N34. They will be replaced by a guardrail, because that gives a clearer view of the road.
The new layout will remain until the flyover at the interchange is finished, which is expected in 2030. Its design is still being worked on.
“Rather than wait for the flyover to be built, we want to take steps now,” says Henk Jumelet, a member of the provincial executive.
Elsewhere on the N34, between Zuidlaren and De Punt and between Exloo and Borger, the road will get paved verges on both sides and a ban on overtaking. The green road marking there will also be widened, with double rumble strips. That work will be carried out at the same time as maintenance on the N34, and all the work, including at Gieten, has to be finished by December 2026 at the latest.