Why accessibility on construction sites is increasingly becoming a logistical issue

The Netherlands is building on a scale not seen for decades. The combination of housing construction targets, network expansion and the energy transition is forcing the sector to turn to locations that are anything but straightforward from a logistical point of view. For professionals in the logistics chain, this is no longer a side issue, but a core problem.

The central government aims to build hundreds of thousands of new homes by 2030, as set out in the National Housing and Construction Agenda. At the same time, network operators are investing heavily in expanding the electricity grid, often in locations far from existing infrastructure. Both developments mean that construction traffic is increasingly finding itself on soft ground, in rural areas and near sensitive natural habitats, where there are no paved access roads.

In this respect, temporary construction roads have become a logistical necessity. Composite road panels, such as those available from Debru, weigh considerably less than traditional steel variants, which has a direct impact on the number of transport journeys required. This not only saves on fuel and CO₂ emissions, but also saves valuable time in the planning process.

The energy transition is pushing construction logistics into uncharted territory

Wind farms, solar parks and transformer stations are rarely built on sites with good access. Think of meadows in Friesland, clay soils in Zeeland or peatlands in the Groene Hart. The Energy Infrastructure Programme, led by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, is mapping out a large number of these projects and highlighting the scale of the challenge.

Logistics managers see the consequences every day. Transporting a turbine foundation weighing tens of tonnes to a field requires a passable route that simply does not exist. Without temporary road plates or drag mats, machinery gets stuck and project schedules are delayed, with all the associated costs.

Clean and Emission-Free Construction is putting pressure on transport

The ‘Clean and Emission-Free Construction’ covenant, coordinated by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, is steering the sector towards ever-lower emissions on and around construction sites. The aim is for a large proportion of construction equipment to operate emission-free by 2030. This ambition affects not only the machinery on site itself, but the entire logistics chain surrounding it.

Fewer journeys with lighter materials, more efficient use of cranes and transport vehicles, and better on-site loading and unloading planning: these are all logistical challenges that now need to be resolved at the outset of a project. Amsterdam has been experimenting with zero-emission construction zones for some time now, and other major cities are following suit. As a result, the pressure to ensure efficient delivery and removal of materials is increasing on a structural basis.

Lighter materials are changing transport calculations

One of the most tangible shifts in construction logistics is the use of lighter alternatives to traditionally heavy materials. Composite road plates weigh roughly half as much as their steel counterparts. That may sound like a minor product detail, but the impact on logistics is significant: more plates can be loaded onto each lorry, thereby reducing the total number of journeys.

Debru has also developed a compact crane with four-wheel steering and a hydraulic lifting system, specifically designed for laying road plates. Such a machine makes it possible to work on site with less heavy machinery, which offers a tangible advantage over the use of conventional cranes on cramped building sites in urban areas.

Construction logistics requires a different approach

The traditional approach, in which logistics on the construction site are only addressed late in the project planning process, is no longer adequate. An increasing number of clients, including ProRail and Rijkswaterstaat, are requiring contractors to submit a logistics plan in advance. Accessibility, emissions and the number of transport movements must be set out in detail in these plans.

This opens up a new field of work for logistics professionals. Those who can combine transport optimisation with knowledge of materials and site analysis make a contribution that goes beyond transport alone. Temporary accessibility solutions, from road plates to temporary bridges, are becoming a standard part of the logistics puzzle rather than a last-minute, after-the-fact solution.