Premium cycle path Wüstenbrand-Küchwald - next construction phase decided
At its meeting today, the city council launched a further construction phase for the expansion of the Wüstenbrand-Küchwald premium cycle path. Specifically, this involves section 2.1 from Riedstraße to Kalkstraße. The city of Chemnitz received funding for this section, which was ceremoniously handed over at the end of October. The city council also approved the over-allocation of own funds from the civil engineering department's budget.
Due to a lack of own funds, this construction phase could not initially be included in the 2021/2022 budget planning. It was not until March 2021 that the City of Chemnitz became aware of new funding opportunities and additional federal grants for cycle paths.
The total costs for the construction phase were estimated at a good 6.9 million euros, with federal and state funding totalling just under 6.1 million euros. The necessary own funds come, among other things, from increased funding for another construction project.
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 construction period will last from March 2022 to July 2023. The bridge construction and the access roads will cause traffic restrictions on Kalkstraße during the construction period.
Background to the Wüstenbrand-Küchwald cycle path
With the acquisition of the former Küchwald-Wüstenbrand railway line in October 2018, planning for its subsequent use as a cycle path was accelerated. The preliminary planning of the so-called premium cycle path on the 13.6 kilometre* long former railway line is divided into four main sections. The route allows for a cycle path with a width of four metres, which is above the recommended minimum of 2.50 metres.
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 cycle path. This means that cycle traffic can be routed from Hohenstein-Ernstthal to Chemnitz independently of the public traffic area - one of the criteria for a premium cycle path. The cycle path will create a safe and attractive centre-west connection for cyclists.
* amended on 16 October 2025