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Site visit at the A67 bridge near Büttelborn reveals urgent need for action
Cyclists and pedestrians using the L 3303 bridge over the A67 near Büttelborn face a dangerous bottleneck. The bridge and its approaches are narrow, and there are neither cycle lanes nor separate pedestrian or cycle paths. Heavy trucks regularly cross the structure in both directions, and a high curb prevents any room to maneuver. Particularly when vehicles are passing each other, critical situations frequently arise.
To assess the situation on the ground, Büttelborn's mayor, Marcus Merkel, met with experts for an on-site inspection. Those present included District Administrator Thomas Will, the cycling coordinator for the Groß-Gerau district, Franziska Knaack, representatives from Autobahn GmbH and Hessen Mobil, as well as Mario Schuller from the ADFC Groß-Gerau district chapter.
The bridge was built decades ago for agricultural traffic. The fact that it is now also used by heavy trucks was not foreseen in the planning. Although experts assess the structure as being in good condition and not currently in need of repair, a replacement is therefore not currently planned. This is precisely what makes the situation difficult, as Mayor Merkel explained.
Danger zone known for some time
The bridge was already classified as problematic during a cycling tour of the district last August. According to the cycling coordinator, there is a lack of both a safe cycling connection between Büttelborn and Griesheim and a safe crossing over the motorway. Mayor Merkel also admitted that, at present, no one could in good conscience be allowed to cross the bridge on foot or by bicycle.
District Administrator Thomas Will described the bridge as one of the biggest bottlenecks for cyclists in the Groß-Gerau district. At the same time, he made it clear that quick solutions are difficult to implement. A new bridge with sufficiently wide cycle lanes is conceivable in the long term, but would also be thwarted by the equally narrow access roads.
Tests for short-term measures
Possible short-term measures discussed included traffic light control and a no-overtaking zone for multi-lane vehicles. These options will be examined. Hessen Mobil also pointed to a planned completion of the cycle path north of the bridge along the B42/44. This could potentially provide a safe alternative for bypassing the dangerous section of the bridge. However, implementation is not expected for several years at the earliest.
District Administrator Will and Mayor Merkel emphasized in closing that they intend to pursue this issue vigorously. The goal is to significantly improve the situation for cyclists and pedestrians before serious accidents occur.
(GROSS-GERAU DISTRICT – RED/PS)
Featured image: Dangerous spot: During an on-site inspection, experts discussed the situation at the bridge over the A67 in Büttelborn, where pedestrians and cyclists have little space. The photo shows (from left): District Administrator Thomas Will, Sonja Ebling (Hessen-Mobil), Arndt Jäger from Autobahn GmbH, Zohal Sidiqyar-Azizi (Hessen-Mobil), Mayor Marcus Merkel, Franziska Knaack, the district's cycling coordinator, and Mario Schuller, ADFC Groß-Gerau district. Photo: District Administration
