Symbolic ground-breaking ceremony on Zschopauer Straße
Mayor Ludwig: City invests 20 million euros in transport project
Due to the steadily increasing use of the federal road by heavy goods vehicles travelling towards the Czech Republic, the state and local authorities have been tackling its expansion in sections since 1990. Last year, the Saxon road construction administration began building the section between Chemnitz and Gornau. The city of Chemnitz itself is responsible for the construction of the Zschopauer Straße, which connects the Chemnitz - Gornau section and the southern Chemnitz intersection. This section, which currently still has two lanes, is now to be widened to four lanes by the end of November 2014. The construction costs for the upcoming four-lane widening of a 908 metre long section of the B 174 between Südring and Bergfrieden amount to 20 million euros. 5.2 million euros are earmarked as the city's share. The road is scheduled to be opened to traffic at the end of November 2014.
Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig: "Our aim in realising this major project is to create an efficient transport infrastructure as an important location factor for the regional economy. The B 174 is an important transport artery for Chemnitz, the region and as far as our neighbouring country, the Czech Republic."
The expansion of the route is also so urgent because forecasts predict an increase in the number of motor vehicles per day from the current 25,000 to 34,000. In the two-lane 'bottleneck' between Südring and Gornauer Straße, heavy goods vehicles and commuters are stuck in traffic jams almost every day, and the upgrading of the main road will save them time. With the expansion of the B 174 within our city limits, traffic flows will in future be diverted via the Südring and connected and distributed to the supra-regional network of the A4 and A 72 motorways.
By the end of 2014, traffic should be moving on four lanes
In addition to the area on which the symbolic ground-breaking ceremony was held today, a rainwater retention basin with a volume of 460 cubic metres will be built over the next few months. The complex traffic construction project between Südring and Gornauer Straße also includes the construction of footpaths and cycle paths. Side roads are also to be connected and noise barriers up to five metres high are to be built. In addition, extensive sewer work and drainage measures are taking place, some of which are required at depths of up to six metres. Cables and protective pipes as well as drinking water and gas pipes will also have to be laid.
As there is no efficient diversion around this construction site, all work must be carried out in such a way that traffic can pass the construction site in two lanes without major restrictions.
Service for affected residents
As part of the construction work that is now beginning, the civil engineering department is organising a service for residents living along Zschopauer Straße: Every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., residents can raise and discuss concerns relating to this road construction project at the site management office, Zschopauer Straße 311.