FEHRL member Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) is in the process of launching the KEYROADS project within Resilent Road element.

Within the Resilient Road element of Forever Open Road, FEHRLmember Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) is in the process of launching the KEYROADS project to evaluate the risks from climate change (and possible measures) for the key road links between its sea ports and the European hinterland. It will use the RIMAROCC guidebook that resulted from CEDR’s ERANET Road research framework.

The project will complement a similar project run by BASt for the German key road network, achieving cross border compatibility in the results.

The two projects combined will cover the major part of the continental North Sea ports that form the ‘gateway to Europe’.The continuous and reliable availability of hinterland connections is of strategic importance to the European economy. In view of the long investment cycles, it is imperative to have early knowledge of the risk hotspots and possible measures to improve their resilience. Hence the project is in good accordance with the objectives of the envisaged TEN-T policy.

RWS has contracted FEHRL to prepare, tender and manage the project, allowing its own experts to concentrate on the content. The project will be kicked off by the end of February 2012 and will be tendered in late spring 2012. For more information, contact Kees van Muiswinkel at RWS (kees.van.muiswinkel@rws.nl).