In Maasvlakte Plaza, the Port of Rotterdam Authority is developing an international transport park with large-scale truck parking and modern facilities for both driver and truck. The number of paid parking spaces for trucks in the port of Rotterdam will double as a result, to 700. The Port Authority expects Maasvlakte Plaza to open in 2017, Port of Rotterdam Authority said in its press release.
The construction of Maasvlakte Plaza is in line with Port Authority policy to improve the security of parked trucks and to reduce the nuisance caused. The Port Authority also sees Maasvlakte Plaza as an opportunity to boost innovation in the logistics process. “Thanks to the central location, close to the big container terminals, Maasvlakte Plaza can be used in the future to further develop the principle of the ‘Virtual Gate’ whereby all kinds of inspections and customs and administrative operations can be coordinated optimally. That can be achieved by improving uniformity in the logistics process”, according to Ronald Paul, COO at the Port Authority.
Maasvlakte Plaza will be a secure truck park with 359 parking spaces, over 80 of which will be able to accommodate trucks carrying dangerous goods (ADR). There will also be facilities for trailers, ECO-Combis (extra long vehicles), reefer containers and special shipments.
Alongside the truck park, there will be a central building housing the amenities required for this park (food and drink, extensive washroom facilities and, in the future, ‘Virtual Gate’ functions), with the accompanying office facilities. Talks are already under way on the construction of a restaurant, fuel pumps and a number of service companies for road transport.
Contractor Van Gelder B.V. is responsible for the civil engineering work, the construction and redesign of the Vogelvallei and the construction of the truck park.
Part of the project is the redesign and expansion of the existing Vogelvallei. This will create a large, uninterrupted nature reserve covering 21 hectares, consisting of various islands, separated by shallow stretches of water. The great variation in the layout and the long stretches of bank mean that the area will be suitable for many species of birds, including several coastal breeders and types of duck. The two bird viewing points, one of which has a sand martin wall, will be very popular among bird-watchers. The Vogelvallei was designed in collaboration with various environmental interest groups and drawn up by H+N+S Landschapsarchitecten Amersfoort and Bureau Stadsnatuur Rotterdam.
Since 2012, the port of Rotterdam has had the use of three truck parks. Truckparking Waalhaven offers 124 parking spaces. Truckparking De Punt in the Botlek and Truckparking Distripark Botlek both have a capacity of 85 parking spaces. Since these paid parking spaces became available, parked trucks have become considerably more secure and less nuisance has been caused.