Making the city fit for the future is a major concern for us. Among other things, this is important for smooth-flowing traffic and a high quality of life for all Aachen residents. Construction sites can be disruptive, but they are essential for a liveable city. And there is more to them than meets the eye.
Many construction sites benefit us as soon as they are completed: We all benefit from better cycle paths and footpaths, smooth-flowing (bus) traffic and the redesign of public spaces, housing and green areas in the city.
© City of Aachen/Ralf Roeger
Beneath the surface
However, most of the construction work takes place below the surface, where we are on the move every day. There are 8,000 km of pipes for street lighting, electricity, gas, water, district heating, telecommunications and sewers for waste water in Aachen's soil. Of course, this infrastructure also needs to be kept in good condition. Many of the pipes date back to the 1950s. In the city center, the sewer network is even over 100 years old in places. It needs to be modernized step by step. Otherwise there will be sudden damage that has to be repaired at short notice. Sometimes old "treasures" are even discovered during construction work underground in Aachen. The construction work is then accompanied by archaeologists.
Together with Plan
The work around a construction site is therefore often invisible - from underground measurements to the organization in the background. The City of Aachen promotes cooperation between all stakeholders and companies involved in a construction site and tries to ensure that processes run as smoothly as possible. Despite these efforts, it is sometimes not possible to keep to the timetables around a construction site. The city of Aachen also makes sure to accommodate all sensible changes in one construction phase. For example, during the reconstruction of Jakobstrasse, new supply lines were laid and a premium footpath and a new bicycle station were created at the same time. The planning team also took into account the increased demand for district heating connections during the construction phase.
Focus on safety
In addition to these practical points, the city's employees naturally also pay attention to safety and rest periods: It is important that there is sufficient space between a construction site and traffic - for the safety of construction workers and all road users. Around a third of all construction sites can only be operated with a full road closure. Sufficient space is also required for footpaths and cycle paths at construction sites. The team also has the needs of people with disabilities in mind. Where it is feasible, work is sometimes carried out at night to ensure fast completion. However, in residential areas and the city center, noise protection has priority at night and at weekends.
The most frequently asked questions about construction sites
Why so many? What are the causes? Are construction sites coordinated? Why close first, then open again? Why can't it be done faster? We have summarized questions and answers for you in the FAQ below.
What are the causes of construction sites?
The vast majority of construction work takes place below street level. This is where pipes are located that need to be regularly repaired, renewed or extended in order to remain fit for the future. Many construction sites also result from political decisions relating to the redesign of the city, e.g. to improve bus services, cycle paths and footpaths or generally to improve the quality of life and amenities in
the city. These measures contribute to urban renewal, the mobility transition, more green spaces and a pleasant urban climate. There are also structural engineering measures such as bridge construction or third-party construction projects that take up space in the streets due to renovation or new buildings for containers, scaffolding, construction fences and storage areas and can lead to road closures.Why are there so many construction sites?
There are more than 800 kilometers of roads in the city of Aachen. These include 8,000 kilometers of pipes for street lighting, electricity, gas, water, district heating, telecommunications for high-speed internet and sewers for wastewater. Many of the pipes were installed in the 1950s. Their service life is now coming to an end. If you look at the sewer network in Aachen - especially in the city center - there are even sections of pipe that are over 100 years old. If network renewal is postponed for too long and the expected service life of the pipes is exceeded, sudden damage will occur more frequently. There are currently numerous examples of this. They lead to unplanned construction sites at short notice, which cannot be postponed due to their urgency. And they result in traffic disruptions.
The high number of damages makes it clear how important it is to renew and expand a future-proof and safe infrastructure. To ensure that the supply remains reliable, 200 km of pipes need to be replaced in the city every year. This alone corresponds to 70 to 100 major construction projects per year. Since the energy crisis, the need for climate-friendly district heating has also increased. However, the increased demands on the performance and control of grids due to electromobility and renewable energies also play a role.
New occupational health and safety regulations for the safety of construction workers have an impact on road traffic. They require greater distances from traffic and thus result in full road closures. This affects around a third of all construction sites. Minimum dimensions for footpaths and cycle paths as well as the special needs of people with restricted mobility must also be taken into account.Why can't the number of construction sites be reduced?
If the estimated service life of the pipes is exceeded and network renewal is postponed for too long, damage occurs and this leads to acute construction sites. These roadworks can neither be predicted nor postponed. The current high number of damages and the resulting traffic obstructions make it clear how important it is to quickly renew and expand a sustainable and safe infrastructure.
However, regularly planned construction sites are sometimes suspended or dismantled in exceptional cases due to special events. This includes the Christmas market, for example, which attracts more than a million visitors to the city center within four weeks.Do the clients of the construction sites coordinate?
Construction measures are closely coordinated between all developers: Planning often begins more than three years in advance and is then coordinated in increasing detail on a quarterly basis. Regionetz and the City of Aachen each have a construction site manager for overall coordination, who ensures that the measures are optimized in advance. Good to know: The expansion of the fiber optic network has priority according to the Telecommunications Act. There are limits to the possibilities for coordination here
. Suddenly occurring acute construction sites or building construction measures that are not implemented by the public sector and lead to road closures or otherwise impair the road space cannot be coordinated in the long term.Why are some construction sites closed and then reopened shortly afterwards?
New lines must first be laid and in operation before the house connections can be reconnected and the old lines disconnected. Otherwise, the supply to connected customers would be interrupted for the duration of the construction period. Once the new pipes have been laid, the same locations are therefore dug up several times in some cases to transfer the connections from the old pipe system to the new one. It also happens
that telecommunications providers decide to lay pipes at short notice or that homeowners decide to connect to the district heating network at a late stage after all.Why does it sometimes look as if no work is being done at all?
Some activities give the impression that the construction site is at rest. Leakage measurements or other activities that are not visible on the surface are often carried out during this time. However, delivery bottlenecks and staff shortages at the companies carrying out the work or forced breaks due to the weather can also be responsible for the fact that no progress can be seen on site: Asphalt work and
road markings in particular are dependent on suitable weather for technical reasons.Why do construction measures sometimes take so long?
When planning all measures, the city and Regionetz check the condition of the existing pipes at the same time and replace them in one go if necessary. This means that the surfaces only have to be torn up once. This saves time and effort overall, even if it initially makes the construction work more complex and extensive.
Why is there no construction work at weekends and at night?
In residential areas and the city center, noise protection has priority over weekend and night work. This is also regulated by law, e.g. in the Federal Immission Control Act and the administrative regulation on protection against construction noise. Occupational health and safety also plays a role: for these reasons, it is not permitted to work longer than ten consecutive hours. In times of a shortage of skilled workers, the company carrying out the work may not have enough
staff available to cover several shifts.Where can I get information?
Shortly before the start of a construction project, the city and Regionetz inform all residents in the affected area in writing. There are press releases and participation opportunities for more extensive construction measures or those that are likely to cause major disruption. You can find more information on current construction work at www.regionetz.de/baustellen.
Where can I report road damage?
The city of Aachen has set up a portal where you can report damage online:
Construction site information system
What information does the construction site information system contain?
The city of Aachen's roadworks information system provides up-to-date information on the interactive city map about traffic restrictions and other traffic obstructions due to construction work and so-called special uses.
- The roadworks information system contains all measures by various parties that have been approved by the City of Aachen and are likely to lead to traffic obstructions (e.g. roadworks, building construction sites involving the use of public traffic areas, major events). The information comes from the database on special uses and traffic regulations of the City of Aachen.
- Special uses and traffic regulations are usually only issued for a limited period of time. However, large construction sites in particular (sewer and pipeline construction) can last considerably longer than initially specified in the permits. The responsible departments of the City of Aachen extend the periods as soon as it appears necessary. The extended deadlines currently only appear in the construction site information system once they have been officially approved.
- As a rule, contact details for external companies cannot be provided for data protection reasons.
- You can find contact persons for the individual construction sites by following the link in the pop-up window. In most browsers, a "pop-up window" opens when you navigate over an icon with the mouse. Some smartphones and tablets have restrictions on this display. Alternatively, you can obtain the information from the construction site hotline on 0241 432-7000.
Explanatory video: Construction sites in Aachen
Who? How? What? Why? Why? Why? Questions about building sites in Aachen? The film by Regionetz and the City of Aachen provides information on the subject.
Construction site information event 12.11.24
Construction work is underway on many roads in Aachen. The City of Aachen and Regionetz GmbH explain why this is the case in a joint public information event. The focus will be on current and planned construction measures in Aachen, the associated challenges and solutions for sustainable infrastructure development.
In keynote speeches, a specialist from Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Regionetz and the City of Aachen will provide insights into fundamental issues of road infrastructure, current projects and future plans for Aachen.
Road planning and construction projects
We have compiled extensive information on all current and future construction sites (planning, political decisions, reason & objective, etc.).
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