Lothringer Straße 2nd construction phase

Brief info

• Project: Reconstruction of Lothringer Straße between Wilhelmstraße and Oppenhoffallee
• Objective: Upgrading of the square and footpaths and conversion into a bicycle lane
• Project phase: Completion of the reconstruction of the square, installation of the bicycle zone and planting of 16 trees

Current

The work on Lothringerstrasse has been completed. An opening ceremony will be held on the new square on May 16, 2025 from 5 pm. Further information can be found here in the press release.

Video

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Map

Occasion and goal

The 2nd construction phase of Lothringerstraße connects Oppenhoffallee with Wilhelmstraße. It is part of the Eilendorf and Brand priority cycle routes, which are currently being planned or implemented, as well as the premium footpath 3 towards Frankenberger Park. The road design is to be adapted in line with the functional requirements of these superordinate network concepts. In the course of this, the spatially adjacent and functionally integrated district square is also to be redesigned.

Condition and planning

Street space

In accordance with the planning decision of the Mobility Committee of 26.06.2019 and the implementation decision of Dec. 2022, Lothringerstraße between Oppenhoffallee and Wilhelmstraße was converted into a bicycle lane or bicycle zone.

In order to achieve this, Lothringerstraße became a one-way street for private motorized traffic. However, cars may only turn left at Wilhelmstraße in the direction of Normaluhr, Burtscheid and the main railway station. In future, motorized vehicles will no longer be permitted to turn right into Wilhelmstrasse in the direction of Kaiserplatz. This regulation was introduced so that the volume of motor vehicle traffic does not exceed 400 vehicles per hour, which is acceptable for a cycle lane. Kaiserplatz can only be reached from the Frankenberger Viertel via the right turn from Zollernstraße or via Adalbertsteinweg.

To clarify the right of way for the Lothringerstraße cycle route, footpath crossings were provided on both sides at the junctions (Alfonsstraße, Herzogstraße and Friedrichstraße). The number of bicycle parking spaces has been significantly increased along the entire length of the road.

The lane of the cycle lane will be colored red to emphasize the priority of bicycle traffic. This will only be done once the regional network measure has been completed (probably after 2029).

District square

The district square is located on the planned premium footpath no. 3 from the city center to the Frankenberger Park destination. Along this pedestrian route, the square will in future offer a pocket green space with significantly improved amenity and green quality. The plans envisage that the side road and the 16 parking spaces in the core area will be removed. The parking spaces on Lothringerstrasse will also be removed. The footpaths will have a minimum width of 2.50 m. In addition, the square will be unsealed and the existing tree population will be supplemented. The future tree beds will be edged with a 50 cm wide concrete border. This will vary in height and will have seating at various points, some with backrests and armrests. A play area will also be created and the collection containers will be given a new, more local location.

After various considerations to preserve the existing trees, the politicians were informed by means of a table presentation and the citizens were informed by means of a press release that the trees in the square were to be felled. The felling of the trees is necessary because a detailed examination - a so-called root search - had shown that

An examination of the trees had shown that the roots of the former trees lay above and below a 10 to 40 centimeter thick layer of concrete in the subsoil. The necessary removal of the slab would have severely damaged the trees. Due to the difficult site conditions and the past heat waves, the trees were permanently damaged. They were therefore felled.

Following completion of the construction work to redesign Lothringerstrasse, 16 new trees were planted on the square and along the street. The new trees have large root spaces. Their living conditions are much better prepared for the expected change in the urban climate with periods of low rainfall and very hot weather. Once the regional network work has been completed (around 2029), a hedge will be planted between the sidewalk and the road between Alfonsstrasse and Wilhelmstrasse.

Construction times

The measure was implemented from March 2024 to April 2025; the construction work was repeatedly delayed because archaeological finds had to be secured and it repeatedly rained heavily in the second half of 2024 and at the beginning of 2025.

From 2029, Regionetz GmbH will be laying new supply lines and house connections in Lothringerstrasse. A hedge will then be planted and the cycle lane will be painted red.

Procedure and costs

An estimated cost of just under 2 million euros was calculated for the realization of the measure.

Resolutions of the political bodies