The National water board has been working on the widening of the A2, a highway between Amsterdam and Utrecht. Part of the expansion is the implantation of vegetation in the landscape strips on either side of the highway, the design of the infrastructure connections and the design of ecological stepping stones.
Brons + partners landscape architects has been commissioned by the National water board to develop a scheme for the vegetation. The vision for the design is based on the several types of landscapes that are passed, existing and according natural vegetation and technical requirements of the highway. The peat and meadow landscape formed an inspiration for long landscape zones along the road with water and small dikes, as a contra mal of the landscape.
In 2010 and 2011 a large number of measures have been carried out for the widening of the road and the associated design of the verges and the infrastructural connections. Unique are the several Quercus Palustris, planted near Breukelen, referring to the park landscape along the river Vecht. Behind the sound barrier near Vinkeveen rows of Fraxinus Excelsior are replaced and completed. Near the ditch called Geuzesloot a special, broad eco-passage has been built under the viaduct. The peat landscape, with its alternating strips of water and dry lands, seems here to run underneath the road.
Project number: 910
Location: Highway A2 between Amsterdam and Maarssen
Client: National water board, directie Utrecht
Product: Planting plan infrastructure
Year: 1998-1999, 2006, 2009-2010