Milestone for cycle expressway: Favorite route variant presented

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Feasibility study for the new South Main rapid cycle connection between Hanau and Frankfurt is progressing

A first important milestone has been reached in the planning of the cycle expressway between Frankfurt and Hanau (FRM8). In the course of the ongoing feasibility study, a preferred route variant could be defined and presented to the municipalities in the steering committee accompanying the planning.

Various route variants (including on-site inspection) had previously been analyzed and evaluated by the planning consortium using an extensive catalog of criteria. These studies were supplemented by public online participation and several consultations with experts from the municipalities and other specialist authorities.
“Feasibility studies are not an end in themselves. At the end of the process, a bike path should be created. To do this, we need broad support and the cooperation of many actors. I am pleased that, after intensive consultation and public participation, we were able to find a preferred variant and present it to the political representatives of the municipalities. This brings us a big step closer to our common goal, ”explains Mobility Department Head Rouven Kötter from the FrankfurtRheinMain regional association.

Course of the preferred road

Starting at the Ignatz-Bubis Bridge in Frankfurt, the route runs along the Deutschherrnufers and Gerbermühlstrasse. From there it changes to the south side of the railway and leads along the railway towards Offenbach. In Offenbach, the preferred line extends over Frankfurter Strasse, Parkstrasse and Geleitstrasse. Including the Bleichstrasse and Mathildenstrasse, the route continues to the B43. Alternatively, a route on the embankment is also checked. The planning line goes along the B43 to Mühlheim, where it swings to the road connection south of the railway at the level of Anton-Dey-Straße. The route runs along the railway and industrial road over the Spessart Bridge (K191) back to the B43. In Hanau, the preferred road leads over a new Main crossing north of the Steinheim Main Bridge in the direction of Hanau city center ”.
Agreement and outstanding questions

The steering committee welcomes the submission of the preferred variant and thus also the progress of the planning. The steering committee members agree that the aim must continue to be to find a variant that can be implemented and implemented in the foreseeable future so that the situation for cyclists on the southern Main road between Frankfurt and Hanau can be improved. The participants emphasize that there can be no simple solution in the densely populated Rhine-Main area and that compromises have to be found on all sides.

There is still a need for clarification for individual sections of the preferred variant. In the downtown Offenbach area, the route should be examined in more detail in order to cause as few conflicts as possible between bicycle, pedestrian and car traffic. In consultation with Deutsche Bahn, the routing along the embankment should also be checked. In the Hanau section, the construction of a new bridge over the Main is being examined in order to be able to better connect the Hanau city center to the new high-speed bicycle connection.

What’s next

With the identification of the preferred variant, the development of measures and the detailed determination of potential can now take place. In these planning steps, detailed solutions for the routing are developed on a small-scale level.
The results of the feasibility study should be on the table in the summer of next year. As soon as the political committees of the municipalities involved approve this, the further planning phases for construction and the subsequent implementation of the rapid cycle connection can begin.

background

On March 3, 2020, the cities of Frankfurt am Main, Hanau, Mühlheim am Main and Offenbach am Main, the Offenbach district and the regional association signed a declaration of intent for the implementation of a rapid cycle connection for the FRM8. The highest cycling potential in all of Hesse was determined for this south Main connection between Hanau and Frankfurt.

The planning consortium (INOVAPLAN from Karlsruhe, PGV-Alrutz from Hanover, moderation office team ewen from Darmstadt) has the mandate to work out the feasibility study for this corridor together with the regional association and the municipalities involved.

Further information on the regional association’s plans for all rapid cycle connections in the region: www.region-frankfurt.de/rsw.

(Text: PM Regionalverband FrankfurtRheinMain)

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