Welcoming
For the pas couple of years the city of Zwolle has been expanding and it wants to keep on being a welcoming city in the future. The accessibility of the city centre and parking facilities contribute to that objective. No only improving the flow of car traffic and public transportation was important. The safety of cyclists and pedestrians was very much considered. Zwolle is proud to hold the title of Fietsstad 2014 (cycling city of 2014). The reconstruction Pannekoekendijk - Harm Smeengekade was part of the project Accessible Inner City, that the city together with contractors and other partners executed between 2012 and 2016.
Traffic, water safety and spatial quality
The project is linked to the HOV-flow through (HOV = High-Quality Public Transportation). The goal is to realise a fast completion of the public bus transportation to the city’s outer ring. In the future this function will be enhanced and the Pannekoekendijk will turn into a location where visitors can arrive by bus or car continue their journey walking into the inner city. The Pannekoekendijk not only serves a traffic purpose, it is also an important embankment. Therefore the restructuration forms a part of the assignment to obtain a spot in the IJssel-Vecht-delta as a water safe and climate resistant city. The design brings traffic, water safety and spatial quality together.
Exceptional green design
The biggest change in this design regarding the old situation and the landscaping in it, was the creation of a new green structure with park-like character. Along the cycling path a continuous row of trees is planted at an even distance from each other. In the verges between the driving lane and bus lane, trees are planted in groups, thus creating a view to the town canal. In the area along the canal a character and feel of a park was created. Different tree species in this so called canal plantation enhance the parklike character and the town canal.
Trees
For both the central reservation as well as the area next to the cycling path a tree with specific crown characteristics and a beautiful autumn discoloration was chosen: the pin oak (Quercus palustris). Nursery Udenhout has delivered 97 mature Quercus palustris 25-30 with Cocos rootball for this project to company BTL Hengelo. In Autumn 2014 these trees were inspected and marked by the city of Zwolle. All parties involved were present: city of Zwolle as commissioning party, Roelofs Den Ham as head contractor, BTL Bomendienst and BTL Hengelo as contractors for the landscaping and ROVA as manager after completion of the project.
Summer planting
Special to the project was the planting of the trees in the summer of 2015. In order for this to succeed, the trees were already lifted in February. The special rootballs were wrapped with a mat consisting of two layers coconut fibres with a bio-degradable plastic in between. The mats are air- and water-permeable which protects the rootball against dehydration and overhydration. The 97 trees were stored in a climate controlled hanger at our nursery where they were being watered regularly.
Planting throughout the year
In April/May the trees were relocated outside the hangar and secured with lines and watered using a drip line. The roots outside the rootball come in contact with light and air thus hindering the outside rooting and enabling inner rooting resulting into a fine system of active hair roots. Any possibility of twisting of roots is now prevented. After the trees are planted the roots will continue growing immediately and the tree will not experience a relapse and will be able to use all their energy for the growing process. Sap streams and the presence of leaves can make a tree extra vulnerable. Careful transportation and unloading with a root hook is therefore necessary. Trees with a cocomat root ball can be supplied at any time of year, and any delays and corresponding financial losses can be kept to a minimum. Through the cooperation of professional and skilled partners this project became a great success with a magnificent end result.
Advantages Cocos rootball:
