Münsterstrasse

Brief info

• Project: Expansion of roadway and sidewalk
• Objective: Structural and functional improvements

Map

Current

As the road surface of Münsterstraße in the section between the freeway and Wilhelm-Ziemons-Straße was renovated by Aachener Stadtbetrieb in March/April 2021 in order to comply with the road safety obligation for this area, only the expansion of the ancillary facilities into a wide footpath and cycle path (including lighting) will initially be pursued.

Occasion and goal

For several years, the Aachen-Brand district council has been calling for Münsterstraße between the A44 motorway and the Vennbahn to be rebuilt, as it has long been in a state of disrepair. In addition, the width of the carriageway no longer meets the requirements of safe meeting traffic for buses and trucks.

Condition

The two-lane road is built according to the separation principle. On the north-eastern side there is a footpath (sidewalk - cyclists free), which is separated from the carriageway by a parallel side ditch. The speed limit is 50 km/h.

The width of the carriageway is 5.90-6.40 m in the section from BAB 44 to Schagenstraße, where regular bus services operate. This is less than the width required for two buses to pass each other (6.50 m). In this section, the north-east sidewalk measures 2.40-2.80 m and thus meets the minimum dimension defined in the guidelines for the construction of urban roads (RASt 06) for two pedestrians to meet. The sidewalk is open to cyclists in both directions. To the south-east of the carriageway, there is an approx. 2.50 m wide footpath along a small section at house 373.

Between Schagenstraße and Vennbahnradweg, the carriageway is 5.20-5.30 m wide. On this section, too, the carriageway does not meet the requirements for two buses to meet, but this section is used much less frequently by regular bus services. In this section, the sidewalk (sidewalk - cyclists free) is 1.50-2.40 m wide.

Planning

The plans envisage widening Münsterstraße to a continuous width of 6.50 m along the entire section to allow two buses or trucks to pass. A minimum 0.50 cm wide embankment strip will be maintained on both sides between the carriageway and the side ditch to ensure surface runoff.

The footpath is to be widened to 3.40 m along the northern side ditch. As part of the implementation planning, it will be checked whether it is structurally possible to widen the footpath to 3.40 m throughout. In order to ensure the drainage of surface water, an embankment strip at least 0.50 m wide must be maintained between the footpath and the side ditch. In addition, as many trees as possible should be preserved.

Due to the sufficient width, cyclists and pedestrians can meet without conflict. The signage on the sidewalk is still under review. Politicians and the administration have spoken out against making it compulsory for cyclists to use the pavement.

There is currently no street lighting on this section of Münsterstraße. It will be supplemented accordingly for the planned road section, both for the carriageway and for the footpath and cycle path.

Procedure and costs

Political consultation
27.03.2019: Consultation in the Aachen-Brand district council (planning decision for variant 2)
11.04.2019: Consultation in the mobility committee (planning decision for variant 2)
01.12.2021: Consultation in the Aachen-Brand district council (status report on the conversion)
09.12.2021: Consultation in the mobility committee (status report on the conversion)

Information for citizens
An information event is planned before implementation. You will find more information here at the appropriate time. The construction costs will be determined as part of the preliminary planning of the area and whether the construction measure will trigger a contribution obligation in accordance with the NRW Municipal Charges Act is currently being finalized.

Council info template