Pontstrasse

This is what Pontstraße looked like before the start of construction (2021): There is a cycle path between the sidewalks and the parking lane, which does not comply with the regulations. The roadway is used by motor vehicle traffic heading out of the city. There is a high demand for space for outdoor catering, delivery and loading facilities, cab ranks and bicycle parking. During major celebrations, the very heavy bus traffic often has to be spontaneously diverted.

The most important facts in brief

Pontstraße is characterized by many restaurants and bars and is known and loved far beyond Aachen as a street where people like to party. Between Pontdriesch and Ponttor, motor vehicle traffic and bicycle traffic are routed as a one-way street in an out-of-town direction.

Most people are unaware that Pontstrasse is part of the district heating route from Laurensberg to the city center that is currently being implemented. In this capacity, Regionetz has been carrying out construction work on Pontstrasse for around 18 months since May 2025. This will require the road to be fully closed. A detour via Wüllnerstraße has been set up for this purpose.

In July 2025, the political bodies commissioned the administration to carry out a public participation process to discuss options for upgrading the street space.

Map

Initial situation/existing situation

Function of the road and central deficits

Pontstrasse has a very high density of restaurants and cafés, which is also very popular due to its proximity to RWTH locations. Most guests reach their destination on foot. In the evening hours, Pontstraße also has a high frequency of pedestrians and cyclists in this section.

The design quality of this section is comparatively low. It is primarily characterized individually and briefly by the adjacent restaurants in the form of tables, chairs and planters. There is a complete lack of public seating. In the summer months in particular, Pontstrasse is bustling with a mixture of Aachen residents of all ages, tourists and students.

In Pontstraße, motor vehicle traffic is routed as a one-way street out of the city from the junction Pontdriesch/Zufahrt Bergdriesch. For motor vehicle traffic, this section acts as a collector road to guide traffic from the inner city development area "Seilgraben" towards Alleenring (see "https://www.innenstadtmobilitaet-morgen.de"). In the evening, Pontstrasse is used by some motorists as a "presentation mile".

In terms of public transport, Pontstraße from Pontdriesch is part of the central public transport axis from the bus station towards Roermonder Straße. Lines 1, 3, 7, 13, 17, 27, 33, 37, 41, 43, 44, 47, 73, 74, X47 and X73 as well as the night bus lines N2 and N4 use the road. During major festivities, bus traffic is severely disrupted and often has to be spontaneously rerouted.

Cyclists can use Pontstraße in two-way traffic. Due to the narrow widths used by pedestrians and cyclists, the current situation is deficient in terms of road safety, quality of life and traffic flow.

The structural width of the sidewalk on the southern side of the road does not meet the requirements of pedestrian traffic in terms of lingering, strolling or crossing. As a rule, pedestrians also use the red-paved cycle path, which is not compulsory, potentially leading to conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists.

Traffic load

On 07.11.2024, 560 vehicles were counted on Pontstraße (at the junction with Saarstraße/before Ponttor) coming from Hirschgraben during the peak hour (15:15 - 16:15). Between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on this day, around 5,200 vehicles and 620 bicycles used the roadway. This figure does not take into account the cyclists riding into the city on the side road. It should also be noted that the volume of bicycle traffic is subject to strong fluctuations, particularly due to weather conditions. On school days, 32 buses use Pontstrasse during the peak hour between 7 and 8 am.

Cross-section in existing buildings

The dimensions of the individual cross-sectional elements of the road space are shown here in front of house number 135. The road is 17.60 m wide. The cycle path and the parking lanes are narrower than the current requirements for a new design.

Variants of traffic routing and road space division

Über die Versorgungsfunktion im Untergrund hinaus bietet die Pontstraße in diesem Abschnitt vielfältiges Potenzial hinsichtlich der Erhöhung der Aufenthaltsqualität und teilweise auch zur Erhöhung der Verkehrssicherheit. The administration is therefore aiming to combine the urgently required supply measures with a redistribution and redesign of the street space.Zwei Variantenwere presented to the political bodies in July 2025. The variants are presented here in short form.

Variant 1: "Focus on quality of stay"

In the planning proposal favored by the administration, pedestrians and vehicle drivers are structurally separated from each other. Cyclists and motor vehicles are guided on the roadway and pedestrians on the sidewalk. This takes into account the high volume of pedestrians with a predominantly recreational and shopping function and at the same time ensures that shops and restaurants can be reached by car.

In this variant, a 5.55 m wide carriageway is provided for motor vehicles in one direction and for bicycles in both directions. In addition to the wide sidewalks, 2.20 to 2.35 m wide strips are provided on both sides for parking, deliveries and loading or for people to stay.

Variant 2: "Cycling facilities compliant with the cycling decision"

In order to meet the objectives of the"Aachen Cycling Decision" adopted in 2019, a further variant with cycle paths on both sides was planned. This variant would mean that all trees would have to be removed on one side and that this section would have to be taken out of the 30 km/h zone, as cycling facilities subject to mandatory use are not permitted in 30 km/h zones.

Timetable and milestones of the current measure

• May 2025: Start of the construction site for laying district heating
  • Regionetz has been laying district heating pipes in Pontstrasse since May 2025. Construction is scheduled to take 18 months. The work will generally be carried out in an approx. 2 m wide trench along the middle of the road and, starting from a district heating sub-distribution system that is also to be installed, will branch off at right angles to the pipeline axis in the direction of the buildings. Archaeological finds can delay construction.
  • Pontstrasse construction project (Pontdriesch-Ponttor) | Regionetz
  • To the entry in the construction site information system

• July 2025: Decision to carry out a public participation process
  • Two variants were proposed to the political bodies for development. (see below)
  • The administration was commissioned to conduct a public consultation. A permanent relocation of regular services from Pontstraße to Wüllnerstraße, as implemented during the construction period, is also to be discussed.
• planned by Dec. 2025: public participation in preliminary planning
  • Citizen participation will be carried out on the basis of the political consultation. This is currently being prepared. The date will be announced on this page as soon as it has been set. Residents will be informed by direct mail. The public will be informed via the press.
• planned by Dec. 2025: decision on the basic division of the road space (planning decision)
  • The conclusion of the preliminary planning is the decision on the issues to be taken into account in the street ("planning decision"). This mainly involves determining the lanes, sidewalk widths, the type of bicycle traffic routing and the multifunctional strips (bus stops, parking spaces, trees, benches, etc.). At this stage, a rough cost estimate is made based on the scope of the necessary civil engineering work. The planning decision is a fundamental decision by the political bodies on the design of a road and is therefore very important.
• planned in 2026: Decision on the structural execution of the measure (execution decision)
  • The implementation planning is drawn up on the basis of the planning decision. This is where the exact widths and technical design are worked out. As a rule, citizens are informed about this plan before the decision to implement is made, so that corrections can be made in detail if necessary. On this basis, a template with a precise cost estimate is drawn up, on which the responsible political body decides. The construction work is then put out to tender and a construction company is sought before the work can be precisely scheduled and implemented.
• planned until the end of 2026: Completion of the regional grid measure
  • The regional network measure started in May 2025 is scheduled to be completed after 18 months. Should there be any changes to this, you will be informed on this page.
• planned from 2027: start of the urban transformation measure
  • Residents will be informed in advance once the contract has been awarded and the start of construction has been agreed. They will then also be informed of the planned construction period.

Costs

The costs will be presented for the planning and implementation decision when the planning is further detailed and budgeted accordingly. An as-built variant will be cheaper than a variant in which extensive conversion work is planned, e.g. by moving the kerb position.

Council info