GREENS on the feasibility study for the expansion of Autobahn 5 near Frankfurt
The federal government’s feasibility study on the ten-lane expansion of the A5 near Frankfurt contains many indications of the serious consequences the expansion will have for Frankfurt and, above all, for the people along the route. Despite this, the study comes to a positive conclusion – even though it is difficult to understand. This is why we have analyzed the study from a technical perspective, examined the statements in the feasibility study and also made the information between the lines visible.
Katy Walther, spokesperson for transport for the GREEN parliamentary group: “Our analysis shows that traffic is growing less than forecasts say and that, according to the ADAC traffic jam report, the main traffic jams in Hesse are not located on the section affected by the expansion. The expansion, which has enormous potential for conflict, is neither necessary nor economical. It is much more important to focus investments in road construction clearly on the renovation of bridges and other critical infrastructure.”
“Transport Minister Kaweh Mansoori has put the expansion of the A5 back on the agenda. However, the expansion would result in much more traffic, negative effects on the railways and health risks for the population. Our analysis presented today makes this ruthlessly clear.” Walther criticizes the transport minister’s obscure handling of the issue: “Mansoori’s smokescreen that the federal government will build a gigantic concrete tunnel around the expanded motorway while existing Hessian bridges crumble is absurd and is intended to distract from his own responsibility. As a former sharp critic of the project, he is now the one who has put the expansion, which we Greens had removed from the priority list, back on the agenda. His hope is that the expansion will only come when he is no longer in office. For thousands of people in Frankfurt West, however, the Los Angeles Highway A5 threatens to become a clearly visible and audible memorial to the failed black-red transport policy.”
Key results of the technical analysis:
- Traffic growth is lower than the feasibility study says.
- The ADAC Hessen’s traffic jam report of recent years has shown that construction sites were the main cause of traffic jams. The most congested sections were not on the A5 near Frankfurt.
- The Main-Weser railway is currently being expanded to four tracks as far as Friedberg and the U5 extension from Friedrichsdorf to Usingen is being built. Once completed, both will offer commuters in the region particularly attractive and climate-friendly alternatives to using the A5 by private car. An expensive expansion of the A5 counteracts sensible investments in the railway.
- The study clearly shows the enormous noise pollution that the planned expansion will cause: despite the very high level of noise protection, the permissible limit values are still significantly exceeded at night, thus posing a health risk to the population.
- The costs are exploding and the Autobahn GmbH already does not have enough money to renovate dilapidated bridges and road infrastructure.
- The expansion endangers planned residential areas around Frankfurt. Living space is scarce and its creation has priority over Germany’s first ten-lane motorway.
- So far, there is no reliable basis for evaluating the idea of an enclosure: the feasibility study does not discuss the question of structural feasibility or include a risk assessment in accordance with the Tunnel Directive.
- Furthermore, the standards for a ten-lane motorway expansion are still missing.
- Interventions in allotments, residential buildings, company buildings, the motorway maintenance depot, the Urselbachtal bridge, sports facilities and the Main crossing are necessary. The feasibility study does not sufficiently acknowledge interventions in protected areas.
- The ten-lane expansion is not compatible with the Integrated Climate Protection Plan Hesse 2025.
- The construction site will result in years of traffic jams and closures on the route.
- The expansion will place a heavy burden on the downstream road network. There is a risk of traffic collapse in the cities, especially in Frankfurt.
- Due to the high costs and the lack of proven benefits, the feasibility of the measure is questionable.
- In the 2016 Highway Expansion Amendment Act, only the two sections from the Frankfurter Kreuz to the Nordwestkreuz Frankfurt are designated as ten-lane. For the subsequent sections from the Nordwestkreuz to Bad Homburg and on to Friedberg, there is no planning order for ten lanes.
Press office of the Alliance 90/The Greens parliamentary group in the Hessian state parliament
Press officer: Lisa Uphoff
Schlossplatz 1-3; 65183 Wiesbaden
Phone: 0611/350597; Fax: 0611/350601
Mail: presse-gruene@ltg.hessen.de
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