Where in Zuidas
Since March 2023, the TriAX construction consortium (Besix, Dura Vermeer, Heijmans) has been carrying out various soil surveys and investigations of the water bed around the De Nieuwe Meer interchange on behalf of Zuidasdok. In order to leave any green areas intact for as long as possible, we started our surveys in places that could be accessed immediately. But in the period from the end of August 2023 until mid-March 2024, it will be the turn of the final locations on and around the interchange and along the edge of the A10 Zuid. To do that, we have no choice but to remove some of the shrubbery and several trees. But it is worth noting: we will only remove what is needed in order to conduct further investigations and will not go any further than that.
Test trenches and sounding trucks
By removing the planting, we are creating space to dig test trenches to identify any underground cables and pipelines. We now need that information in order to design the reconstruction of the De Nieuwe Meer interchange and during the construction work that will start in late 2024. We also need space for the large sounding trucks used to take soil samples.
Nesting season
In order to remove the trees, bushes and other plants, Zuidasdok applied for a permit at the end of 2016 and this was granted in February 2017. This also includes the works taking place from the end of August until mid-March 2024. This period was not chosen by accident: in order to prevent disruption to birds that are mating, building nests, laying eggs and raising chicks, tree felling is not permitted during the nesting season (from mid-March 2023 until mid-July 2023).
Trees grown to order
In accordance with the applicable Municipal Trees Bylaw [Bomenverordening] (2014) the tree-felling permit requires Zuidasdok to replace any tree felled by a tree of comparable quality in the same area after completion. For example, a 35-year-old tree can be replaced by four trees with a trunk circumference of 18-20 cm or two trees measuring 21-35 cm each. In order to ensure that it has sufficient trees of the right quality, Zuidasdok recently joined forces with the City of Amsterdam and invited quotations from tree nurseries to grow trees especially for this project. This is an important move because trees are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain as the greening of cities becomes ever more popular.
Replanting Fund
Unfortunately, there is not always room to replant trees, for example because of the widening of the A10 Zuid and the associated reconstruction of the Amstel and De Nieuwe Meer interchanges. For cases like this, we have invested €2.6 million in the Replanting Fund (and the related Zuidas Replanting Fund). The amount was based on an expert assessment of the value of the trees removed. This will enable us to pay for the greening of Zuidas later on while the value of the greenery within Zuidas is maintained.
Zuidasdok
The reconstruction of the De Nieuwe Meer interchange is part of the Zuidasdok project. We are building a new flyover and bridges across the Schinkel and widening the A10 Zuid from four to six lanes in each direction. We are creating the space needed to improve traffic flow on the A10 Zuid and make it safer. To make this possible, major changes are required at the De Nieuwe Meer interchange (and later also at the Amstel interchange). At the heart of Zuidas, the A10 is being diverted underground in order to make space for the expansion of Amsterdam Zuid station.
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