Wilhelmstraße

Brief info

• Project: Redesign according to regional grid measure
• Objective: Cross-section in compliance with guidelines
• Timeline: starting in 2027
• Project phase: Preliminary planning

Current

Public Participation: From October 27 through November 24, 2026, the administration will be accepting feedback on the planning concepts developed so far. Please feel free to use the “Beteiligung NRW” portal for this purpose. In addition, a public dialogue event will take place on November 10, 2026, at the Suermondt-Ludwig Museum. Details can be found in the linked flyer.

Map

Occasion and goal

The sewer lines along the eastern ring road (Wilhelmstraße, Heinrichsallee, and Monheimsallee) are in urgent need of replacement. This work is scheduled to begin on Wilhelmstraße. As part of the sewer construction, the electricity, gas, and drinking water lines will also be replaced, and a district heating pipeline will be laid. Based on current information, these measures will cover the entire street right-of-way and will be carried out using open-cut construction methods. Once the underground work is complete, extensive surface restoration will therefore be required. As part of this restoration, the street layout could be redesigned to meet future needs. The current street layout no longer complies in all respects with the requirements of the regulations currently in effect.

Stock

As part of the Regionetz project, all road markings will be removed. However, since these markings no longer comply with current regulations (bike lanes that are too narrow, insufficient safety distances from parked vehicles, narrow motor vehicle lanes), the existing markings cannot be restored to their original state. An alternative road layout must therefore be developed. Further details can be found in the linked document.

Planning

Extensive consideration was given to alternative cross-sections. From among these various options, two alternatives were selected for further planning analysis.

Both options call for converting the current parking lane into a so-called multifunctional lane. This means that, in addition to parking spaces for cars and trees, the plan includes bike racks, charging stations for electric vehicles, parking areas for e-scooters, and delivery and loading zones for both private and commercial use. Both options aim to create a sustainable tree-lined avenue with larger trees and more locations than exist today.

You can find a representation in the form of “idealized” site plans of the existing structure as well as planning alternatives A and B here.

Option A (Elimination of the bike lanes)

The inadequate protective lanes for bicycle traffic will not be reinstated after the sewer renovation. This will allow for the marking of lanes with nearly ideal dimensions. Bicycle traffic will be routed together with motor vehicle traffic in a mixed-use setting. According to the Recommendations for Bicycle Infrastructure (ERA), this routing configuration is not recommended under the existing conditions (motor vehicle traffic volume and speed). If it is nevertheless considered, the regulations stipulate that an additional alternative route should be provided. In the case of Wilhelmstraße, the connection via Friedrichstraße should therefore be significantly improved (possibly by designating it a “bicycle street”). The route leading to the alternative route from the Kaiserplatz and Normaluhr intersections should also be made clearer.

In this approach, the restoration is heavily based on the existing structure. As a result, the planning effort is likely to be less, and implementation is more cost-effective. However, the opportunity for a sustainable redesign is only partially realized.

Option B (Uphill Bike Lane)

Building on Option A, a protective lane for bicycle traffic will also be added in the direction of travel corresponding to the 12 o'clock position on a clock. In this direction, the street has a significant incline, which leads to a greater difference in speed between cyclists and motor vehicles and thus a greater need for (at least physical) separation of the different modes of traffic. Toward Kaiserplatz, cyclists share the roadway with other traffic.

In this option as well, plans should be made to upgrade the parallel route along Friedrichstraße.

The reconstruction requires an adjusted cross-sectional layout (widening of the roadway). This will entail a greater time and financial investment than Option A; however, it will allow for the creation of additional multifunctional lanes and improved cycling infrastructure.

Assessment by the Administration

At present, there are many indications that Option B is the most effective planning approach, as it takes into account the high priority given to motorized individual transportation and public transit along the Alleenring, while also providing a basic infrastructure for bicycle traffic.

Council info template

Master Plan for the Eastern Boulevard Ring (July 2026) - FB 68/0100/WP19

Draft Program Advisory Report for Wilhelmstraße (September 2026) - FB 68/0093/WP19

Master Plan for the Eastern Boulevard Ring (October 2026) - FB 68/0139/WP19