Grant notifications for premium cycle path are handed over

The city of Chemnitz is receiving funding totalling more than 8.6 million euros for the construction of the Wüstenbrand - Küchwald premium cycle path. Mayor Michael Stötzer will receive the three grant notifications on Wednesday, 27 October at 2 pm.

The handover will be made by Torsten Stanko from the State Office for Road Construction and Transport at the site of the future bridge over Kalkstraße in the Rottluff district. Representatives of the media are cordially invited to this event. Directions are attached. Please observe and comply with the current Covid-19 hygiene standards and rules at the press event.

The grant will be used to build construction section 3.0 from Kalkstraße to Rudolf-Krahl-Straße and construction section 2.1 from Riedstraße to Kalkstraße. Construction section 2.1 also includes a cycle bridge for the seamless crossing of Kalkstraße.

Background to the overall construction project:
With the acquisition of the former Küchwald - Wüstenbrand railway line in October 2018, planning for its use as a cycle path was accelerated. The planning of the premium cycle path on the 13.6 kilometre* long former railway line is divided into four main sections with respective sub-sections. The first section runs from Wüstenbrand to Grüna, the second from Grüna to over Kalkstraße (of which section 2.1 runs from Riedstraße to over Kalkstraße with bridge). In the third construction phase, work will continue from Kalkstraße to Paul-Jäkel-Straße (construction phase 3.0: from Kalkstraße to Rudolf-Krahl-Straße). The fourth construction phase comprises the section from Paul-Jäkel-Straße to Küchwald.

The rails and sleepers were removed along the entire length of the former railway line. Trees and bushes will also be cleared during the construction work in order to create optimal lighting conditions. By implementing the overall measure, the south-west, north and ring routes of the city of Chemnitz's cycle network will be connected to the planned premium cycle path. This will enable cycle traffic to be routed from Hohenstein-Ernstthal to Chemnitz independently of the public transport network, thus creating a safe, attractive centre-west connection for cyclists.

Construction section 3.0 (construction decision B-035/2021 of 17 March 2021) from Kalkstraße to Rudolf-Krahl-Straße will be implemented over a length of around 1.4 kilometres. The planned asphalt surface of the four-metre-wide carriageway enables comfortable and safe driving in all weathers; the recommended minimum width is 2.50 metres. The access road on Rudolf-Krahl-Straße will be permanently upgraded for rescue, construction and maintenance vehicles. This direct connection to Limbacher Straße serves, among other things, as a temporary access road for the further construction of the future section 3.1.

Structural measures are required on the four existing bridges in section 3.0: the bridges will receive a carriageway slab that will allow a carriageway width of 3.8 metres at these points. In addition, fall protection and structural drainage will be installed or repaired. The existing natural stone masonry will be retained but will be cleaned, loose areas will be repaired and graffiti protection will be applied.

Total costs of just under 3.1 million euros have been estimated for this construction phase. The federal and state governments are contributing funding totalling around 2.58 million euros.

Construction section 2.1 from Kalkstraße to Riedstraße* will be implemented over a length of around 2.8 kilometres. This follows on from construction section 3.0 in a westerly direction. The asphalt surface for the carriageway will also be four metres wide. A bridge over Kalkstraße and a neighbouring field was planned to create a level crossing. In the area of the field, the field area under the structure will remain passable for agricultural vehicles. The visually extremely slender bridge in conjunction with the sloping pylon creates a striking entrance to the city of Chemnitz from the Rottluff exit of the A 72 motorway in the direction of the city centre. The total cost of this construction phase was estimated at a good 6.9 million euros, with federal and state funding totalling just under 6.1 million euros. The construction resolution B-233/2021 was prepared for this construction phase for the next city council meeting on 24 November 2021.

Directions: The approach should be via Rottluffer Straße. About 200 metres after Rottluffer Straße 62, there is a cycle path in a right-hand bend on the left-hand side of the road. This is the meeting point. You can park on the roadside of Rottluffer Straße just before or after the bend and in the Mühlberg/Rottluffer Straße area. Alternatively, you can park at the Kalkstraße/Weideweg junction and walk up the cycle path on the landward side of Kalkstraße.

* amended on 16 October 2025