Project De Entree, the redevelopment plan for the city-side of Amsterdam’s Centraal Station, began on Monday with traffic chaos and the wheels of a large crane sinking through a bridge, the Parool said.

The crane was stuck for several hours after its wheels went through the bridge opposite the Ibis hotel.

The €89.6m project is the most extensive building project in the city centre and will be carried out in three stages. Droogbak, the western-most underpass which is heavily used by cars will be closed for the next five months and that led to most of Monday’s traffic problems, the paper said.

The five year project includes the renewal of Stationsplein, the square in front of the station, the building of underground parking garage for 7,000 bicycles, the construction of new tram stops and and the expansion of the open harbour front.