Ruling Handed Down by Primary Judicial Court
Over the past year, the Saxon State Directorate (LDS) approved the expansion of Königsbrücker Straße, a measure deemed crucial for the safety of cyclists in Dresden, Germany's most hazardous city for cyclists.
Recently, the Neustadt initiative "StadtMussAtmen" gathered over 2,500 certified signatures and presented them to the City Hall, aiming to establish a citizens' forum for discussions on the redesign of this significant traffic axis in Dresden. However, city officials declared the initiative's 2,649 signatures ineligible as they were collected after the LDS' decision. Consequently, the initiative is considering legal action.
The planned expansion includes enhancing tram tracks, widening the street, redesigning the footpaths, and modifying tree stands over a distance of 1.5 kilometers. The project is set to cost approximately 87.5 million euros and completion is scheduled for 2029.
In contrast, "StadtMussAtmen" has proposed a complete overhaul of the existing street, which could preserve more than 100 trees in the area between Bischofsweg and Stauffenbergallee and save roughly 30 million euros in construction costs. Nonetheless, the feasibility of securing funding for such a renovation is unclear, and this aspect could have been addressed in the proposed citizens' forum.
Critics, led by Jenny Keck, argue that the conditions along Königsbrücker Straße have significantly changed in recent years. With fewer cars and a rise in pedestrian and bicycle traffic, along with the destruction of Carolabrücke, there is a need for a reappraisal of city traffic management in the region. Keck raised concerns about felling trees and creating a transverse asphalt route between Hechtviertel and Neustadt, stating such action could result in environmental, municipal, and financial missteps.
Under the current city plans, excavation for parts of the detour routes in Eschen- and Tannenstraße is set to commence in September and October 2025, while the main construction phase on Königsbrücker Straße is slated for mid-June 2026, with completion expected in 2029.
Update: The City Hall has stated that further objections have been excluded following a thorough procedure since the plans are already far advanced according to the Building Department. Yet, "StadtMussAtmen" intends to pursue legal action, with lawyer André Schollbach (a Left party member) on board to represent the citizens' initiative.
Source: Saxon State Directorate, Dresden City Hall, CityMustBreathe, adfc-dresden.de
- For additional information: Saxon State Directorate, Dresden City Hall, CityMustBreathe, Archives of reports on the expansion of Königsbrücker Straße in the Neustadt-Geflüster under the #koebru hashtag (neustadt-geflüster.de)
- Relevant links: general-german-cycling-club-statistics-2023
- Related articles: Information Event on Königsbrücker Straße (Neustadt-Geflüster, May 3, 2024), Animated Königsbrücker Straße Online (Neustadt-Geflüster, Unspecified date), Decision on Königsbrücker Today? (Neustadt-Geflüster, May 17, 2024)
Industry officials have raised concerns about the impending expansion of Königsbrücker Straße, with potential implications for the finance sector, given the significant cost and potential savings associated with the project. Moreover, the future of transportation in Dresden could be affected by the relocation of tram tracks and the expected increase in pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
The expansion of Königsbrücker Straße under the current city plans may also impact the local transportation industry, as excavation for parts of the detour routes in Eschen- and Tannenstraße is scheduled for 2025 and 2026. This could lead to temporary disruptions and may require alternative transportation solutions during the construction phase.
