Amsterdam, which has hundreds of bridges crossing its canals, is now planning a first-ever bridge across its biggest waterway, the IJ River. The bridge, which will take ten years to build, would be a pedestrian and bicycle connection between the city center and the fast-growing Amsterdam Noord borough across the river.
Cyclists and pedestrians now rely on a ferry service and a metro link that have been increasingly crowded as Amsterdam Noord’s population has grown by almost 50% in recent years as it has transitioned from an industrial area to primarily residential. Cars are able to make the trip through a tunnel opened in 1968.
The estimated €300 million cost for the 1.2 km bridge, which will be one of the longest in the country, will be split between regional transit authorities and the city itself. The bridge will serve an estimated 20-25,000 users a day.
Image: commuters leaving the IJ ferry
