Expensive cycle path in the Rheingau: millions for a temporary solution!

Expensive cycle path in the Rheingau: millions for a temporary solution!

A new project in Hesse is currently causing a stir: Closing the gap on the banks of the Rhine between Rüdesheim and Assmannshausen is associated with high costs and traffic disruptions. Hessen Mobil is planning to build a temporary section of the cycle path, which will contribute to the safety of all road users. This is reported by the FAZ.

A whopping two million euros will be invested in the implementation of this project, with the total expenditure for the cycle path being estimated at 137 million euros for just eleven kilometers. Critics complain that this temporary solution was not originally included in the plans and is therefore causing unnecessary costs and time delays that drivers and residents will experience through traffic disruptions for nine months. Visitors who come from Bingen via the ferry also have to take a detour via Presberg.

Traffic measures and construction time

Construction work is expected to begin on Wednesday, June 25th and will continue until spring 2026. During this time, the B 42 will be closed on one side, meaning that the opposite direction will have to be rerouted via Presberg. Traffic from Rüdesheim to Assmannshausen remains on the B 42, while cyclists from Assmannshausen are redirected via the L 3034 and the Niederwalddenkmal. However, this route is only suitable for experienced cyclists or e-bikes Hesse Mobile reported.

In total, the construction time for the 300 meter long section, which is to be built on a disused railway track, will take nine months. In addition, converting an intersection into a roundabout will take a lot of time, which will particularly affect the wine towns of Assmannshausen and Lorch. A planned tunnel for the Rüdesheim level crossing could further complicate the situation, with initial work not expected until after 2030 at the earliest.

Supportive measures and future projects

The expansion of cycle paths is part of a broader Hessen Mobil initiative, which since 2021 has been based on a new methodology that assesses the urgency of cycle paths. This transparent process takes various criteria into account, from the importance of the cycle path for the entire cycle network to the current traffic situations for cyclists. Loud Hessen.de Of the current projects, 15 were set on federal and 20 on state roads.

The financial resources for the construction of cycle paths have increased enormously: in 2014, annual funds of 1.7 million euros were made available, and by 2024 this amount is expected to increase to 17 million euros. These investments are intended to ensure that cycle paths are taken into account in new buildings and relevant extensions, especially in areas with frequent accidents. This will make the transport infrastructure in Hesse safer and more user-friendly, even if the path to get there is riddled with challenges.