A32 near Grou closed over risk of falling glass
Rijkswaterstaat has closed the Mid-Fryslân aqueduct in both directions after glass panels from light fittings threatened to come loose.
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The A32 near Grou in Friesland has been closed in both directions since 9 pm on Thursday. Rijkswaterstaat is taking the precautionary measure because glass panels from light fittings in the aqueduct could fall.
According to Rijkswaterstaat, inspections showed that the glass panels on the lighting may not be properly secured. Falling glass could endanger road users and cause damage or injury. The aqueduct will therefore remain closed for as long as safety cannot be guaranteed.
There are 42 light fittings in each direction of travel, 84 in total. A contractor is carrying out a further inspection using cherry pickers. This will determine whether only the glass panels need to be removed or whether the complete fittings must be taken down.
The closure applies to all regular traffic and will remain in place until further notice. Rijkswaterstaat has not given an end time. Emergency services can continue to use the A32; according to the road authority, specific traffic measures have been put in place for them.
Traffic is being diverted in both directions via the N31, the Wâldwei and the A7. Road users should expect additional travel time and are advised to check their route in advance.
The closure follows an earlier incident this autumn in which glass from a light fitting landed on the carriageway. Rijkswaterstaat now says it will first examine the fittings before reopening the aqueduct. When that happens will depend on the inspection results and the necessary work.
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Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The core facts were checked directly with Rijkswaterstaat, the road authority. The current closure, its cause, the scope of the inspection and the diversion route are stated in the source; it also gives no end date.
- confirmed The A32 near the Mid-Fryslân Aqueduct has been closed in both directions since 9 pm on 5 November 2026. — Mentioned in Rijkswaterstaat’s news report. source
- confirmed Glass panels from light fittings could fall and pose a danger. — Rijkswaterstaat cites this as the reason for the closure. source
- confirmed There are 42 light fittings in each direction of travel. — This figure appears in Rijkswaterstaat’s publication. source
- confirmed Traffic is being diverted via the N31 and the A7. — The diversion route is given in Rijkswaterstaat’s report. source
- confirmed Emergency services can continue to use the A32 under specific traffic measures. — Rijkswaterstaat states this explicitly. source
Editor's note
It is certain that the A32 has been closed since 9 pm on 5 November, why this happened, how many fittings are being examined and which diversion applies. Rijkswaterstaat has not yet announced an end date for the closure.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- Het Parool — „a32 grou”
- Trouw — „a32 grou”
- NRC — „a32 grou”