Försterstrasse

Brief info

• Project: Adaptation according to regional network
• Objective: Structural and functional improvements
• Timetable: City: start of construction 2024
• Project phase: under construction

Current

Construction work on the redesign of Försterstrasse will begin on Monday, 28.10.2024. The expected construction period is 8 months.

Map

Occasion and goal

From November 2022 to August 2023, Regionetz GmbH renewed all supply and disposal lines in Försterstrasse and temporarily sealed the excavations. To mark the occasion, the entire street space is now to be redesigned and redistributed according to functional requirements.

Today's situation

Försterstraße is located in the north of the Aachen-Mitte district, south of the Lousberg in the residents' parking zone "N". It is a main access road with a low traffic load. The road is built according to the separation principle. The speed limit is 30 km/h. As a cross-connection to the hiking trail on the Lousberg, the road is part of the premium trail concept. It therefore fulfills an important function for pedestrian traffic.

In Försterstraße, the width of the carriageway is 4.30-5.00 m. Where parking is permitted on both sides at the same time, the lane width is largely less than 4.50 m. This does not correspond to the width required for two cars to meet in accordance with the guidelines for the construction of urban roads (RASt 06). Parking is currently permitted on both sides of the sidewalk. The parking spaces are indicated by markings. The existing sidewalk widths next to the parking spaces on the northern side of the road are between 0.94 and 1.90 m and between 1.53 and 1.97 m on the southern side of the road. There are 71 parking spaces available in the public space.

Planning

As part of the redesign of Försterstrasse, the street space will be redistributed and safety and comfort for pedestrians will be improved. Measures for traffic safety, microclimate and accessibility, such as sidewalks at least 2.50 m wide with tactile guidance elements and five tree plantings, are to be implemented.

The eastern footpath between Lousbergstraße and the green area on the corner of Försterstraße and Nizzaallee is 2.50 m wide. In order to retain as many parking spaces as possible in the public space, this footpath is narrowed to approx. 1.56 m from the green area to the junction with Nizzaallee. To protect the existing green structure, the footpath cannot be widened in the direction of the green area. The southern footpath will be at least 1.90 m wide.

Försterstraße will continue to be passable in both directions, whereby the remaining lane width between the parked vehicles will only be sufficient for one-way traffic. The planned fire department parking areas will also serve as passing areas for passing vehicles.

In addition, the width of the carriageway at the junctions with Nizzaallee and Lousbergstrasse will be 4.75 m to allow vehicles to pass and prevent them from getting stuck.

As an increased need for bicycle racks was identified, 17 new bicycle racks are planned for the area. After the conversion, around 56 car parking spaces will still be available. The parking spaces will be marked on the asphalt roadway.

Crossing the Nizzaallee to the Lousberg

In order to enable the continuation of the new premium footpath from Försterstraße to Lousberg, two barrier-free crossing points for pedestrians are to be created in Nizzaallee at the level of the access points to the paths to Lousberg. However, the crossing points will be created as part of the road renewal of Nizzaallee (junction of Försterstraße / Nizzaallee to Nizzaallee house no. 47), which is expected to be implemented in summer 2025.

Information for citizens

The implementation plans for Försterstrasse were presented by the City of Aachen in a live digital public information event on January 17, 2023.

Next steps

The road expansion by the city of Aachen is expected to begin in September 2024. The estimated construction time is 8 months.

Political consultations

• 27.11.2019: Consultation in the Aachen-Mitte district council (the planning is to be revised)
• 04.03.2020: Consultation in the Aachen-Mitte district council (planning decision for variant 3 and implementation decision for the conversion of the crossing at Nizzaallee)
• 29.04.2020: Consultation in the Mobility Committee (planning decision for variant 3 and implementation decision for the conversion of the crossing at Nizzaallee)
• 09.06.2021: Consultation in the Aachen-Mitte district council (planning decision for variant 3, supplemented)
• 01.07.2021: Consultation in the Mobility Committee (planning decision for variant 3, supplemented)
• 24.05.2023: Consultation in the Aachen-Mitte district council (implementation decision)
• 01.06.2023: Consultation in the Mobility Committee (implementation decision)