The transport ministry is considering permanently opening several hundred kilometres of motorway rush hour lanes, according to Friday’s AD.

‘We have over 225 km of rush hour lanes which are closed most of the day. I want to see if we can get them opened permanently. Then we are making the most of the asphalt we have,’ transport minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen is quoted as saying.
Rush hour lanes are only open a few hours a day and are subject to less strict noise and pollution requirements. They were developed from 2003 as a way of ensuring extra roads could be built within the legal noise and pollution limits.
Schultz van Haegen said she would make sure air quality, noise limits and safety standards would not be affected before ordering any lanes open.
The research into the legal implications will be complete in the spring.