Darmstadt aims to reduce traffic congestion and strengthen cycling infrastructure
The Darmstadt city council has decided on a reorganization of the traffic flow in Grafenstraße between Bismarckstraße and Rheinstraße.
The implementation of the measures is planned for 2027.
The cycle path is intended to relieve traffic congestion
In the future, Grafenstraße will be designated as a bicycle street in this section.
According to the city, significant traffic problems regularly occur there. Particularly in front of the parking garage of the medical center, traffic jams frequently form, obstructing buses, cars, and bicycles.
Mobility officer Paul Georg Wandrey explains: “The traffic situation in Grafenstraße has been unsatisfactory for a long time.”
Median strip and new traffic rules planned
The centerpiece of the redesign is a largely structurally secured median strip.
This is intended to prevent, among other things:
- illegal overtaking maneuvers
- vehicles waiting side by side
- Turn left into the parking garage
- excessive speeds
In addition, the city is planning new markings, signage, bollards, and mobile traffic islands. The implementation will result in the loss of approximately 25 parking spaces along the roughly 300-meter stretch.
Access will be partially restricted
In the future, only certain vehicles will be allowed to enter Grafenstraße between Bismarckstraße and Bleichstraße.
This includes:
- Delivery traffic
- Ambulance vehicles
- Users of the parking garage
- Taxis
- public buses
The remaining through traffic will be diverted via Mathildenplatz in the future.
Access to the parking garage of the specialist medical center should only be via Bismarckstrasse.
More space for cycling and public transport
The city expects the measure to improve the situation for cycling and public transport.
“With the bicycle street, we are strengthening cycling and at the same time ensuring that public transport can run reliably again,” said Wandrey.
The safety of pedestrians and the flow of traffic on the city ring road are also to be improved.
Further changes in the southern section
The traffic flow between Bleichstrasse and Rheinstrasse will also be adjusted.
The cycle street will generally remain open to car traffic, however, targeted turning requirements are intended to significantly reduce through traffic.
The bus stops will also be moved from Grafenstraße to Gustav-Lorenz-Straße.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/stip)
