PTV Logistics enables compliant route planning following Merwede Bridge truck restrictions
Since July 18, 2026, trucks have no longer been permitted to cross the Merwede Bridge on the A27 in the Netherlands, after Rijkswaterstaat imposed the restriction on safety grounds. PTV Logistics has updated its route planning software to reflect the closure, helping customers keep routes compliant and up to date as the situation develops.
What's changing on the A27
The Merwede Bridge, which carries the A27 between Breda and Utrecht near Gorinchem, was closed to freight traffic following inspections that found the bridge's steel weaker than expected in several places. Rijkswaterstaat said it could no longer guarantee the structure would hold under heavy loads. Cars, vans, motorcycles, buses, and emergency vehicles can still use the bridge; only truck traffic is affected. With no confirmed date for reopening, trucks are being rerouted via the A16 and A2, adding meaningful detour time for operators across the region.
Infrastructure restrictions like this one can have an immediate impact on transport operations — longer travel distances, extended journey times, and higher operational costs. With freight flows across parts of the Dutch road network affected, accurate, up-to-date route planning matters more than usual.
How PTV Logistics has responded
As of Friday, July 24, 2026, PTV Logistics has blocked the Merwede Bridge for truck traffic in both PTV Map&Guide and TLNplanner, so routes generated through these tools already account for the closure.
Customers planning routes in the affected area are advised to switch to Dynamic mode with the Historic traffic data option in Route Planner, including real-time traffic, to ensure routes stay accurate and compliant while the situation continues to evolve.
Built for changing road conditions
Beyond this closure, PTV Logistics continuously maintains and updates its map and routing data to reflect regulatory changes, road closures, and infrastructure developments across Europe. Dynamic routing lets transport planners account for temporary restrictions, congestion patterns, and real-time traffic events as they arise, so operational decisions stay grounded in current conditions rather than outdated assumptions.
PTV Logistics is continuing to monitor developments around the closure and will update its platforms as further information becomes available.
