Ongoing A32 near Grou closed, possibly all weekend, with traffic diverted

Rijkswaterstaat, the national roads agency, has closed the A32 near Grou since last evening because glass lamp covers could fall onto the road. It is acting as a precaution and sending all traffic around the closure.

The A32 links Leeuwarden, Heerenveen and Meppel and is an important route in the north of the country. Traffic between Heerenveen and Leeuwarden is being diverted via Drachten, along the A7 and the N31.

A Rijkswaterstaat spokesperson said the closure may last the whole weekend. The motorway will stay closed until everything is safe again.

The problem is the glass panels on the lights in the Aquaduct Midden-Friesland, where the A32 passes under the Prinses Margrietkanaal. Yesterday's inspections showed that they can come loose.

Panels had already fallen in August, after which all of them were inspected.

"We kept monitoring them and now see that action is needed to guarantee safety," the spokesperson said.

Specialists are now checking whether they need to remove only the glass panels or the whole lamps. How long that takes will decide how long the A32 stays shut.