Köthener Straße closed for months: BVG ignores cyclists and in an inefficient way uses construction site

Köthener Straße closed for months: BVG ignores cyclists and in an inefficient way uses construction site

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A building container stood there, from time to time. Most recently, the workers parked their cars in the construction site. A garden tent was built for months, including two beer bench sets. Somewhere the workers have to take a break. The Köthener Straße in Kreuzberg was closed for exactly eight months - complete for cars and cyclists.

The BVG replaced the glass roof with one made of sheet at the Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Park underground station. On February 13th it started, many fences made of metal and red and white plastic barriers blocked the wide road-two lanes and two parking strips. One of the two sidewalks was also inaccessible. The number 2 sidewalk, which was less than two meters wide. In order for cyclists to use it, a temporary asphalt ramp was poured. The many cyclists accepted this invitation and thus illegally cycled between the pedestrians.

But did the construction site had to be so large? The BVG shared: Yes. After all, a large crane was needed that had been built on the street. On further demand, the BVG specified that the times of crane operations on "13.03. To 24.03.2023 and May 26, 2023 to 07.07.2023". That is about two months together.

The remaining six months were not required for construction work. The Tagesspiegel has photographed the construction site several times during this time, and the blocked area was never used. The BVG is not interested in that. "It cannot be applied for, approved and implemented technically and commercially for every building status and intermediate building." Said the transport companies. The construction site was approved by the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district.

"According to the data available, the construction site equipment was also used for container positions, material stores and construction trailers," said spokeswoman Sara Lühmann from the district office Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. The photo with the parked cars commented on Lühmann at least with the fact that this was "not intended by the order". And for cyclists there is a designated detour. In fact, a few orange plates hang, some of the cyclists are misleading. Nobody pays attention to it. There is no diversion for the many cyclists who want from the Gleisdreieckpark towards Potsdamer Platz.

The Berlin Mobility Act stipulates in paragraph 39: "While all construction measures with an impact on the public road country, safe bicycle traffic is to be ensured. If sections of roads have to be completely blocked, it must be ensured for designated bypass routes."

The Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Park train station was opened in October 1998 as an additional station on the U2. Urs