Berg, the presidential nominee, is advocating for a revamp of contentious intersections during his political campaign.
In a crucial meeting of the planning committee held in summer 2019, the proposed redesign of the intersections at Bebel and Concordia streets in Oberhausen did not receive unanimous approval. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) members on the committee did not vote in favour of the redesign.
The SPD's opposition was primarily due to concerns about the proposed plans' impact on traffic flow and pedestrian safety. They argued that the redesign might not sufficiently address the underlying issues at these intersections, such as potential increase in congestion, insufficient focus on pedestrian and cyclist needs, and lack of comprehensive stakeholder engagement.
Thorsten Berg, the mayoral candidate of the Oberhausen SPD, expressed his concerns about the reassurances from traffic experts regarding the redesign of the intersections. He stated that an external traffic planner had stated that there would be no congestion with the redesign, a claim that has proven to be incorrect. According to police statistics, Bebel and Concordia streets are each mentioned three times among the 14 most dangerous intersections in the city area.
Thorsten Berg has appealed to the council to correct the planning mistake, stating that people don't want explanations, they want an improvement in the situation. He also emphasized that politicians should not confuse stubbornness with persistence.
The upcoming council meeting will decide on the further course of action regarding the controversial intersections. The SPD and FDP application provides for short-term improvements and later redesign of the intersections. The outcome of the meeting will be crucial in determining the future of these intersections in Oberhausen.
- The SPD's stance on the policy-and-legislation related to the intersections redesign at Bebel and Concordia streets in Oberhausen is influenced by concerns about traffic flow, pedestrian safety, potential congestion, insufficient focus on pedestrian and cyclist needs, and lack of stakeholder engagement.
- The ongoing politics surrounding the redesign of these intersections has led to a crucial council meeting, where the SPD, along with the FDP, has proposed short-term improvements and later redesign, aiming to address the general-news worth issues and improve the safety and efficiency of these intersections in Oberhausen.
