23 August 2005

AMSTERDAM — Peak-hour traffic in the Tilburg, Utrecht and Assen regions was disrupted by three accidents involving lorries on Tuesday morning.

A truck carrying 8,000 chickens crashed into a temporary barrier on the A27 near Utrecht at 2.30am. The driver was slightly injured and was treated at the scene.

The vehicle's semitrailer tipped over in the collision, destroying the mobile barrier, a crash barrier and a section of road surface. Fire brigade officers had to capture chickens who were not killed when they spilled onto the road.

Two lanes in the direction of Hilversum between the A12 and A28 were blocked. An eight-kilometre tailback had built up on the A27 by 7.30am.

Many motorists attempted to turn away from the blockage only to cause a further traffic jam on the A2. There was a 22-kilometre traffic jam between Waardenburg and Nieuwegein by 8.15am.

The Department of Waterways and Public Works said repair work on the road surface and crash barrier would begin on Tuesday evening. A reduced speed limit is in operation at the scene of the accident.

A second truck collided with road works on the A58 from Breda to Tilburg at 5.15. The driver and two road workers were injured.

The vehicle's cargo of silicone poured all over the road. A six-kilometre tailback built up as cleaners worked to remove the substance from the highway.

A third truck served off the road on the A28 to Groningen at 6am. Traffic was reduced to one lane during the operation to remove the damaged truck.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2005]

Subject: Dutch news