Cycle path bridges installed: Milestone for everyday cycling and cycle tourism
Between the state border with North Rhine-Westphalia and the Billinghausen estate in Diemelstadt, there were some exciting things to observe recently: On behalf of the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg, several large prefabricated parts for the footpath and cycle path bridges were placed on the abutments of the bridges over the Diemel and the Mühlgraben. The 300 metre long footpath and cycle path along the district road 91 will be opened to traffic shortly.
Real improvement for cycle traffic
"This event is also fascinating for me," says Karl-Friedrich Frese, First District Councillor of the district. "On the one hand, precision work is required here to place the bridge sections correctly with the cranes. On the other hand, a project into which we have put a lot of work and passion is coming to an end. A real improvement for cycle traffic - and a well-spent investment."
Dieter Oderwald, First Councillor of the town of Diemelstadt, agrees: "Overall, the town has been working with the responsible parties for years to ensure that a safe route from the state border to Wrexen can be realised for cyclists." The section from Gut Billinghausen to Orpethal was built by the town itself. Most recently, in spring this year, the town also asphalted a 600 metre section from the Marsberg town boundary to the district road in Billinghausen, thus significantly upgrading the connection. Hessen Mobil is currently in the planning phase for the final section of the state road between Orpethal and Wrexen in order to obtain the necessary building permits.
Systematic development of everyday cycling
Since 2021, the district has been systematically working on the development of everyday cycling. The everyday cycling concept was adopted in 2022 and planning is currently underway for cycle path signposting. A lot is happening that may not always be immediately recognisable to outsiders. The planning and construction of cycle paths is comparable in scope to road construction measures - and also has a corresponding cost dimension. As far as the district budget allows, projects on district roads are built according to a prioritised list. There is no roadside cycle path on the B7 between Westheim and Scherfede, which makes the Diemel cycle path, which currently fulfils this function at this point, all the more important. District road 91 is heavily affected by lorry traffic. "When we closed this gap, we also installed a cycle traffic duration counter," reports Susanne Paulus, Head of the Construction Department. "This is because we need the data in particular for the evaluation of the everyday cycle traffic concept. Five additional counting points were also installed at other locations in the district, which were purchased with the help of state funding.
The counting point is also of interest to Touristik Service Waldeck-Ederbergland GmbH. This is because no detailed data is yet available on how many cyclists actually cycle along the Diemel Cycle Path, which has been awarded five stars by the German Cyclists' Association - making it one of the two most excellent quality cycle paths in Germany.
Good cooperation between all parties involved
The "Büro für Bauwesen" from Warburg carried out the planning and construction management for the project on the K91 on behalf of the district. The company GfV from Warburg was responsible for the construction of the bridge abutments and the footpath and cycle path. The footpath and cycle path bridges were produced by the Glück company from Engen/Welschingen on Lake Constance. The Warburg engineering office has already realised numerous projects in cycle path and bridge construction. "The approval process for this project was already challenging," says Frank Laudage, owner of the "Büro für Bauwesen". "Among other things, we had to obtain a permit under water law and carry out extensive nature conservation inspections, but thanks to the excellent cooperation of everyone involved, these were completed very quickly."
The assembly of the superstructures and bridge sections was also a challenge. The work under the overhead lines in particular required the utmost precision and careful coordination. Thanks to the expert advice of the contracted companies, these complex lifting operations could be realised safely and efficiently. In close co-operation with all those involved, it was possible to achieve an outstanding result, also from a technical point of view. The coordination and quality of the execution are the result of a partnership-based and solution-orientated approach.
With a financial volume of around 800,000 euros, the bridge structures, consisting of foundations, abutments and superstructures, represent the largest single item in the current construction project. The pedestrian and cycle bridges are 50 metres and 12.50 metres long and have a usable width of four metres. The aluminium structures are characterised by a long service life, low dead weight and high corrosion resistance. They are largely maintenance-free. They were delivered by heavy goods transport.
The costs for the new footpath and cycle path amount to around 1.2 million euros, 75 percent of which will be subsidised by the "Stadt und Land" programme. Planning for the project began at the end of 2022, with planning permission granted in autumn 2024. Construction work began at the start of 2025 and the road is expected to be opened to traffic in mid-October.
Caption: Between the state border with North Rhine-Westphalia and the Billinghausen estate in Diemelstadt, there was something exciting to watch: On behalf of the district, large prefabricated parts for the footpath and cycle path bridges were placed on the abutments of the bridges over the Diemel and the Mühlgraben. Representatives from the district, the town and the companies involved were also present. (Photo: District of Waldeck-Frankenberg)