Premium cycle path between Wüstenbrand and Küchwald
With the acquisition of the former Küchwald-Wüstenbrand railway line in October 2018, planning for its subsequent use as a cycle path was accelerated. The plans for the so-called premium cycle path on the 13.447-kilometre-long former railway line are divided into four main sections. The route allows for a cycle path with a width of four metres.
The project will connect the south-west, north and ring routes of the city of Chemnitz's cycle network to the new cycle path. This means that cycle traffic can be routed from Hohenstein-Ernstthal to Chemnitz independently of the public transport network - one of the criteria for a premium cycle path. The cycle path creates a safe and attractive centre-west connection for cyclists.
Bridge construction for premium cycle path on Kalkstraße
185 metres - that's how long the bridge over Kalkstraße on the Wüstenbrand-Chemnitz premium cycle path will soon be. Construction is progressing steadily with the assembly of the fifth of a total of nine sections on 25 February 2025. The bridge is necessary to allow the cycle path to cross Kalkstraße without levelling out. This fulfils an important criterion of the funding conditions for the premium cycle path. Completion is planned by the end of October 2025.
In addition to the multi-curved shape, the carriageway has another special feature: it is made of carbon concrete slabs. This allows a weight saving to be achieved, which minimises the amount of steel used for the main girders. The bridge is 4.5 metres wide between the railings. The bridge area is approx. 825 square metres.
The construction costs amount to just under 7.8 million euros. Approximately 90 per cent of the eligible construction costs are subsidised by the Free State of Saxony.
Section of the premium cycle path officially inaugurated
On 13 July 2023, Minister of State Martin Dulig and Mayor Knut Kunze opened two sections of the new premium cycle path with a joint cycle tour: the 3-kilometre-long section from Riedstraße to Kalkstraße (section 2.1) and the 2.8-kilometre-long section from Kalkstraße to Rudolf-Krahl-Straße (section 3.0) were completed at the end of June.
The carriageway is 4 metres wide on both the asphalt and the paved sections, which are important for amphibian crossings.
The two sections are to be connected by a new cycle path bridge over Kalkstraße. As the new bridge has not yet been built, the two sections of cycle path will initially be temporarily connected at ground level via Kalkstraße.
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The two construction phases
Construction section 3.0(construction resolution B-035/2021 from 17 March 2021) from Kalkstraße to Rudolf-Krahl-Straße will be implemented over a length of around 1.4 kilometres. The planned asphalt surface of the four-metre-wide carriageway enables comfortable and safe driving in all weathers; the recommended minimum width is 2.50 metres. The access road on Rudolf-Krahl-Straße will be permanently upgraded for rescue, construction and maintenance vehicles. This direct connection to Limbacher Straße serves, among other things, as a temporary access road for the further construction of the future section 3.1.
Structural measures are required on the four existing bridges in section 3.0: the bridges will receive a carriageway slab that will allow a carriageway width of 3.8 metres at these points. In addition, fall protection and structural drainage will be installed or repaired. The existing natural stone masonry will be retained but will be cleaned, loose areas will be repaired and graffiti protection will be applied.
Total costs of just under 3.1 million euros have been estimated for this construction phase. The federal and state governments are contributing funding totalling around 2.58 million euros.
Construction section 2.1 from Kalkstraße to Rudolf-Krahl-Straße will be implemented over a length of around 2.8 kilometres. This follows on from construction section 3.0 in a westerly direction. The asphalt surface for the carriageway will also be four metres wide. A bridge over Kalkstraße and a neighbouring field was planned to create a level crossing. In the area of the field, the field area under the structure will remain passable for agricultural vehicles. The visually extremely slender bridge in conjunction with the inclined pylon creates a striking entrance to the city of Chemnitz from the Rottluff exit of the A 72 motorway in the direction of the city centre. The total cost of this construction phase was estimated at a good 6.9 million euros, with federal and state funding totalling just under 6.1 million euros. Construction resolution B-233/2021 was prepared for this construction section for the next city council meeting on 24 November 2021.