Redesign of the market square has begun
05.05.2021 – The redesign of Offenbach's market square can get underway: After the preparatory work was completed on schedule by May 7, the actual construction work began on Monday, May 10, 2021. It will no longer be possible to drive through from Marktplatz to Waldstraße until probably the beginning of March 2022. The only exceptions are local buses, cabs and delivery traffic. The city center, all stores, restaurants, cafés and parking lots as well as the weekly market will remain accessible by all means of transport at all times during the construction work. A detour has been set up to bypass the market square.
In the first construction phase, the carriageway will be newly concreted at the following locations by mid-September 2021: between Marktplatz and Frankfurter Straße, between Marktplatz, Große Marktstraße and Großer Biergrund and at the intersection of Geleitsstraße. Prior to this, the Zweckverband Wasserversorgung Stadt und Kreis Offenbach (ZWO) will lay drinking water pipes.
Milestone to strengthen the city center
The renovation of the market square is an important milestone in the strengthening and further development of Offenbach's city center: it brings back the quality of life and lively, urban flair to this heavily frequented area of the city center. In order to quickly realize the urban development upgrade of the entrance to the city centre, the planned construction period was shortened from the original 22 to 14 months - partly due to larger construction areas. "We want to be finished here as quickly as possible," emphasizes Paul-Gerhard Weiß, Head of the Department for Environment, Planning and Construction: "The work on the future concept for the city centre has also shown us that the city centre needs a new beginning: The city center needs a signal of departure, and the marketplace conversion is an urgently needed structural measure to create more incentives to visit the city center and spend time there."
Private traffic is diverted, city center remains accessible
To ensure that the construction work can be carried out quickly, the market square will be closed to private motorized traffic during the first three construction phases until probably the beginning of March 2022: Drivers will no longer be able to turn from Berliner Straße into the market square during this time. Local buses, cabs and delivery traffic will still be allowed to drive through via a temporary road that will be created in the western area of the market square (on the side of the Schwanen pharmacy). Residents can apply to the public order office at sondernutzungen-verkehroffenbachde for a special permit to drive through to their property. The detour routes will be widely signposted in the city area - traffic will be routed around the market square via Kaiserstraße, Bismarckstraße and Waldstraße. The city center and all parking garages will remain accessible during all construction phases. This also has an impact on Wilhelmsplatz: it cannot be accessed from the north via Marktplatz from mid-May 2021 to the beginning of March 2022. However, the weekly market and the retail and catering outlets around Wilhelmsplatz will remain easily accessible by car from the south via Waldstraße and Bieberer Straße as well as via Wilhelmstraße during the first construction phase until mid-September 2021.
Pedestrians will still be able to walk along the construction site on both sides of the market square, although the width of the sidewalk will have to be significantly reduced in places. Barriers will secure the pedestrian area. Cyclists are asked to dismount at these narrow points. The Frankfurter Straße/Marktplatz pedestrian crossing can no longer be used as usual - pedestrians are asked to use the Marktplatz/Bieberer Straße or Marktplatz/Berliner Straße crossings.
Wayfinding system for passers-by
Access to the Marktplatz S-Bahn station and S-Bahn services will remain unaffected. All bus connections will also be maintained. Departure and arrival times will not change either. Only individual stops will be temporarily relocated and the replacement stops will be signposted accordingly. Offenbacher Stadtmarketinggesellschaft (OSG) will provide a clear signage system on site so that passers-by can always find their way to the temporary bus stops. On behalf of the city, OSG is responsible for all construction site communication with posters, flyers and an information brochure.
"A major construction project always has an impact on traffic and local residents, but we want to minimize the inconvenience for everyone involved as much as possible," promises department head Weiß.
A flyer, which is now available at the Mobility Center, Salzgässchen 1, provides information about the market square renovation and the impact on public transport. All information on the construction project and traffic routing during the individual construction phases can be found online at www.marktplatz-umbau.de. (opens in a new tab) The residents' representative, Ms. Nihad Moufadil, can be contacted by e-mail: marktplatz-umbauoffenbachde