Bismarckstrasse (in preparation)

Bismarckstraße (construction site situation from 2021)

Brief info

• Project: Full extension with new sidewalks, parking lots and roadway
• Goal: A high-quality city street with a high quality of stay designed as a bicycle street with little car traffic
• Construction period: Vrstl. April 2025 - June 2027

Current

From April 7, it will be completely rebuilt in sections. During this reconstruction, significant structural defects will be eliminated, the street space will be redistributed and given an attractive urban design. In future, 19 new trees will line the street on the side with the odd-numbered houses. The situation for cyclists will be improved by the creation of a cycle lane. Overall, the quality of life on Bismarckstrasse will be significantly improved with the renovation. Further information can be found here. (Press release 04.04.2025) and here in the flyer. (Status 04.25). You can view the current presentation on the start of construction as a pdf under Downloads below.

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Map

Occasion and goal

Bismarckstrasse, the central axis in the Frankenberger Viertel, has considerable structural defects and therefore needs to be rebuilt. Regionetz has already renovated the cable systems in advance. The reconstruction is intended to eliminate urban planning weaknesses and improve the quality of life so that Bismarckstrasse, which is also used intensively by pedestrians, can once again be a high-quality street.

The approximately 850 m long section between Schlossstraße and Drimbornstraße is part of the priority cycle routes to Brand and Eilendorf. It is already used intensively by cyclists and is one of the most important roads in the cycle network for cyclists. For car traffic, it only has an access function. The parallel Oppenhoffallee is part of the main road network for motor vehicle traffic. There is no regular traffic on Bismarckstraße.

In 2021, it was already decided that, for these reasons, Bismarckstraße would also be converted into a cycle lane, as in the upstream and downstream sections.

On the basis of the relevant resolution of 31.10.2019, the administration has developed various variants of a possible street layout and concepts for reducing vehicle traffic. These variants and the results of the subsequent digital public participation from 27.07.-17.08.2020 were presented to the Aachen-Mitte district council and the mobility committee for information. The preferred variant selected as a result was pursued further in terms of planning. The planning decision was obtained on 18.02.2021.

In April 2022, an online citizen information event was offered on 05.04.2022 and an additional planning walk on 30.04.2022. Suggestions from this are reflected in the current planning for implementation. A first step of the adopted overall concept was already implemented in the summer of 2022 with the cutting of the network at Neumarkt.

Planning

The planning envisages the creation of a cycle lane (with vehicle clearance) in accordance with the optimum dimensions of the standards for the design of cycle lanes in Aachen. The lane width is therefore 4.50 m plus a 0.75 m wide safety separation strip. The lane of the cycle lane should be colored red to emphasize the priority of bicycle traffic in accordance with the objectives of the cycling decision. Traffic on the cycle lane should have right of way over the roads leading into it.

The existing intersections are of particular importance in terms of giving priority to bicycle traffic and the desire for a high quality of stay and accessibility.

Wide facilities for pedestrians are provided along the building facades. With a width of at least 4.90 m, the northern area invites pedestrians to stroll. The average width of 3.50 m (at least 3.20 m) on the southern side is also generously dimensioned for the traffic system. The remaining 4.0 m in the road cross-section will be used on the right and left along the cycle lane to provide space for stationary vehicles, bicycle parking facilities and new tree locations. For further details, please refer to the template or the presentation for the implementation decision. The decision to design the street was made in December 2023.

Procedure and costs

The implementation planning was revised in accordance with the decision and the requirements of the safety audit were also taken into account. The tender was successfully carried out. A company is ready. After clarification of the last outstanding points, construction is scheduled to begin in March/April 2025 and be completed after around 26 months, i.e. around June 2027. The conversion will be carried out in individual construction phases so that the road is completed in sections. Detour will be signposted for motor vehicles and cyclists.

The costs of the reconstruction were estimated at around € 5.8 million due to the extent of the intervention (full expansion of the entire road width). The exact costs can only be quantified from the audited invoices of the commissioned companies once the measure has been completed.

Council info template