After a decade of drivers struggling with puddles and wet feet, the car park at the Triade shopping centre in Assen is finally being waterproofed. The repairs will cost 3 million euros and are expected to be completed by the end of 2018.
Translation by Traci White
RTV Drenthe reports that the car park, which opened in 2007 and has 560 parking spots, has always had a problem with leaks. Drivers parking their cars near the Triade shopping centre in Assen have spent eleven years dodging puddles that would form whenever heavy rains would hit the area. The Albert Heijn super market located beneath the parking complex has also battled water damage caused by the car park’s leaky construction.
The car park was commissioned by Ahold Vastgoed and built by Bouwbedrijf Heijmans. The municipality bought the car park, including a waterproof warranty, but when it became clear that the car park was chronically leaky, both companies refused to take responsibility for carrying out any repairs.
The costs for the repairs were originally estimated to be around 2.4 million euros: Ahold and Heijmans paid 1.4 million euros to be exempt from liability, and the municipality of Assen chipped in 1 million euros. But it turns out that the operations will ultimately cost closer to 3 million euros, and the municipality will foot the higher bill.
