Work on Norgerbrug bridge near Assen resumes after swallows leave

Work on the Norgerbrug bridge near Assen has resumed after the protected barn swallows that caused two of three construction delays have left the area. The province of Drenthe reports the birds have flown, and the contractor is expected to work for about eight more weeks. The bridge is unlikely to reopen to traffic before early 2027, according to the province. The project, originally planned for six months, was first stalled in April by frost and snow, then halted in May when a swallow nest was found under new bridge sections, and again in August after a second brood. Work on the adjacent D373 road and a new dam wall along the Norgervaart also faced delays due to varying canal bed conditions, with that road expected to be finished by late October. The bridge, used by about 8,000 vehicles daily, has been closed since November, causing detours, local traffic issues, and lost business for entrepreneurs, whom the province now plans to partially compensate.