The ban has been in force since 18 July 2026, but active enforcement began on 25 July after warning signs and monitoring equipment were installed.
ANPR cameras identify banned vehicles
The restriction applies to lorries and coaches crossing the Merwedebrug in either direction. Rijkswaterstaat is using ANPR cameras to record number plates and take images that allow the system to determine the type of vehicle involved.
Cameras monitoring traffic towards Breda were installed overnight on 24-25 July, while equipment covering the Utrecht-bound carriageway was fitted overnight on 25-26 July.
The Dutch public prosecution service approved the enforcement method. Rijkswaterstaat is carrying out the checks in cooperation with the police and prosecutors.
Operators whose vehicles breach the ban may receive a €500 penalty, with additional administrative charges levied by the Netherlands’ Central Judicial Collection Agency.
TLN urges operators to reroute immediately
Transport en Logistiek Nederland, the Dutch haulage association, has called on transport companies and drivers to avoid the bridge without delay and follow the alternative routes designated by Rijkswaterstaat.
The organisation said compliance was essential not only to avoid penalties but also to protect the safety of road users and the bridge itself.
However, TLN acknowledged that the closure has serious operational consequences for the road freight sector. The Merwedebrug is an important link in the Dutch road network, and its sudden removal from heavy vehicle routes affects journey planning, driver schedules and fleet utilisation.
Longer diversions may also disrupt daily transport operations and make it harder for operators to meet contractual delivery commitments.
Despite the disruption, TLN has told members to respect the restriction. The association is also examining whether legal action could be taken against the Dutch state.
Structural concerns prompted the ban
The restriction followed investigations that found the steel used in several parts of the bridge’s arch structure was weaker than previously assumed.
Rijkswaterstaat said this could result in excessive pressure on the arch. Under heavy loads, the steel plates forming the structure could deform, potentially affecting the overall safety of the bridge.
Removing lorries and coaches from the crossing is intended to reduce the load. The road authority said that, based on the information currently available, it could no longer guarantee the bridge’s safety for heavy vehicles with sufficient confidence.
“We recognise that this measure has major consequences for hauliers, businesses and drivers,” said Robert-Jaap Voorn, director of road traffic at Rijkswaterstaat. “At the same time, there can be no compromise when it comes to the safety of people using our infrastructure.”
Exemptions remain for essential vehicles
Scheduled bus services and emergency vehicles are exempt from the ban to maintain regional transport links and access for emergency operations.
Cars and other vehicles not covered by the restriction may continue to use the Merwedebrug.
Hauliers planning journeys through the Gorinchem area should account for the ban before dispatching vehicles. A crossing can be recorded automatically even when no police patrol is present.
Operators may also need to revise delivery schedules, drivers’ hours planning and vehicle allocation, as diversions could delay subsequent assignments.
Further steel tests under way
Rijkswaterstaat is carrying out additional investigations into the condition of the bridge. Samples have been removed from the steel plates forming the arch to provide a more detailed assessment of both the material and the wider structure.
The results will determine whether further measures are required and how extensive they may be. Rijkswaterstaat has not said how long the ban on lorries and coaches will remain in force.
