Head-Butting Over Highway Expansion: Duisburg Threatens Legal Action Against Highway Authorities
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Duisburg Challenges Study's Findings on A59 Tunnel Construction - Tunnel Project A59 Faces Legal Action - Duisburg Contemplates Lawsuit over Study Rejection
In the midst of plans to expand the A59 highway in Duisburg, the highway authority plans to nix the tunnel suggested by the city, leading to Duisburg threatening a lawsuit. A feasibility study has shown that an underground tunnel would cost about 2.3 billion euros more than an elevated road and increase construction time from 6.5 to 12 years, the highway authority revealed.
The city of Duisburg responded with harsh criticism. "We reserve the right to file a lawsuit if necessary," a city spokesperson stated in response to inquiries. "The citizens in the north of Duisburg deserve a better quality of life thanks to the tunnel solution," explained Duisburg's mayor, Soren Link (SPD). "We'll use every legal and political avenue at our disposal." Link deemed the proposed expanded elevated road as "antiquated traffic-political measures from the 1960s."
At stake is the A59 expansion from four to six lanes between the Duisburg motorway junction and the Duisburg/Marxloh interchange over approximately 6 kilometers. In the current preferred variant, the elevated road would feature extensive noise-reducing measures such as sound barriers and noise-absorbing road surfaces, the highway authority explained. This would result in a "significant improvement" compared to the current noise levels.
The city demands a tunnel in the Meiderich district to mitigate noise and pollution. In the Hamborn district, the "cut-and-cover" method - with incredibly high noise barriers alongside the road - must be covered to protect residents. Duisburg claims an expanded highway in the northern part of Duisburg at an elevated level would have a "standard width" of 46 meters, with buildings located as close as 10 meters away in some instances.
The contentious planning process is under a tight deadline. The central piece of the roadway connection is the 1.8-kilometer-long Berliner Bridge, which crosses the Rhine-Herne Canal and the Ruhr, amongst other things. The bridge is in poor condition and was already closed to heavy traffic last year. All parties agree it needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
- Duisburg
- Highway Expansion
- Lawsuit Threat
- Soren Link
- Tunnel Demand
- Noise Pollution
- Berliner Bridge
- Deadline Pressure
- The city of Duisburg, specifically Mayor Soren Link (SPD), vehemently advocates for a tunnel in the Meiderich district as part of the A59 highway expansion, citing the need to mitigate noise and pollution.
- In light of the highway authority's plans to dismiss the tunnel, Duisburg has threatened a lawsuit, reserving the right to use every legal and political avenue at their disposal.
- The contentious planning process, under deadline pressure due to the poor condition of the Berliner Bridge, is at the center of a head-butting dispute between the city and highway authorities.
