The Sallerner Rain Bridge as a Potential Alternative to the "Monsterpiece"?
How the Sallerner Rain Bridge Proposal Continues to Raise Controversy
Looks like the ol' Sallerner Rain Bridge is still stirring up some trouble in Regensburg.
Sitting smack-dab in the middle of a sprawling city map, Lappersdorf - a northern Regensburg suburb, Sallern, and the River Regen catch the eye. Standing under the shade of a commuter parking lot on a lazy Saturday afternoon, Wolfgang Bogie, chairman of Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) in Regensburg, raises a question that echoes the sentiment of numerous opponents: "Why do I still need a Sallerner Rain Bridge?"
Years of Resistance and Legal Battles
The Sallerner Rain Bridge plan, which has been in development for well over a decade, is easy to spot on Bogie's schematic. It aims to bridge both river banks, link the then expanded Nordgaustraße to the A93 motorway, and the Lappersdorf roundabout. Proponents claim it's an essential transport project, citing concern about the extreme traffic load on the Amberger Straße and the need to ease traffic within and around Regensburg.
Despite their support, plans for the bridge faced initial resistance and even court-ordered suspensions. In 2015, the Bavarian Administrative Court halted the project due to the absence of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). An updated plan approval decision, complete with EIA, was recently issued, but opponents argue it doesn't change much.
"Outdated" Plans and Lack of Adaptation
Bogie and his fellow bridge opponents argue that the plans have become outdated, with the underlying traffic forecasts being "completely outdated" and recent developments, like changes in cycling routes, home office impact, and planned infrastructure projects, being ignored.
An "Outdated Traffic Policy" Resisted by Environmentalists
Left Party city councilor, Irmgard Freihoffer, calls the bridge project an "outdated traffic policy" that should've been buried long ago. Meanwhile, Albrecht Muscholl-Silberhorn, 2nd chairman of the Bund Naturschutz (BN) Regensburg, raises concerns about the area where the bridge is planned, which is designated as an FFH area - a European protected area. Instead of the planned car bridge, he suggests a focus on alternatives, such as a bridge for pedestrians, cyclists, and trams.
Proposal: Emphasis on Green Transportation Solutions
The VCD has proposed a revised route for the B15, shifting it from the Amberger Straße to the B16, which is already connected to the highway via the Lappersdorfer roundabout. By routing traffic around the city center via the Pilsen-Allee and the Odessa Ring, the VCD hopes to bring the desired relief without large construction projects. The association advocates for fewer cars in the city, advocating for a transport revolution that prioritizes public transportation, cycling, and walking, with extensive overhauls to the public transport system.
A Bridge to an "Attractive Mobility Hub" in Lappersdorf?
Bogie suggests the possibility of creating a "mobility hub" in Lappersdorf, providing amenities like city and S-Bahn connectivity via a potential tram line extension. He believes such a project would have strong support from Regensburg residents, especially since residents have emphasized the need for expanded public transport and cycling infrastructure in a city survey.
The Future of the Sallerner Rain Bridge Project
The future of the Sallerner Rain Bridge remains uncertain. With the upcoming two-week appeal period and the VGH in Munich revisiting dormant complaints, opponents like Gerhard Hauner, who owns a nursery that would be directly affected by the bridge's construction, continue to hold onto their objections. Bogie points out that potential alternatives to the bridge, like the one proposed by the VCD, are "blocked" by the continued focus on the Sallerner Rain Bridge project.
Opponents in the industry, finance, and transportation sectors question the necessity of the Sallerner Rain Bridge, with Wolfgang Bogie, chairman of Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD), questioning, "Why do I still need a Sallerner Rain Bridge?"
Albrecht Muscholl-Silberhorn, 2nd chairman of the Bund Naturschutz (BN) Regensburg, from the environmental sector, raises concerns about the plan, suggesting a focus on pedestrian, cyclist, and tram bridges instead of an automobile bridge due to the outdated traffic policy and the plans' disregard for recent developments in transportation and infrastructure.
