Clearing work for the expansion of the Main winter dykes

Construction work to extend the Main dyke in Offenbach will begin in summer 2022. The overall project will be implemented in three construction phases by 2024, starting this summer with the areas in Rumpenheim and on the border with Mühlheim. The expansion of the Main dyke in the city center, between the Carl Ulrich Bridge and the former paint factory site, is planned as the final construction phase for 2023 and 2024. However, preparatory measures are already underway. Among other things, the necessary clearing work will begin this month to avoid disturbing wildlife during the breeding and settling season.

A five-metre-wide dyke protection strip is being created on both sides of the embankment on the border with Mühlheim. This area must not be planted with trees and shrubs in order to prevent damage to the dyke itself and to ensure navigability in the event of danger. Trees and shrubs must be removed from this area. Further trees will be felled in the area in front of the Main below the current flood protection wall in the Schlosspark area.

In the case of a row of trees between "Neugasse" and "Kleines Gäßchen" on the cycle path, it is still uncertain at this stage which of the trees can be preserved. In the course of the long planning and approval process, the trees have grown so much that the construction of the sheet pile wall could significantly interfere with the tree location and cause damage to the crown and root area. A tree expert, who is accompanying the entire project, is currently assessing the effects of the necessary interventions in terms of tree health and traffic safety.
Only when the results of the investigation are available can a decision be made as to which of the trees can be retained. If trees are felled in this area, the higher nature conservation authority in Darmstadt must be involved. It will be kept informed of nature conservation issues on an ongoing basis.

In addition to the tree expertise, the construction project is supported by an external expert for ecological construction monitoring. This expert ensures that there are no occupied bird nests or inhabited tree hollows, for example.

During the clearing work, there will be traffic obstructions in this area. The cycle path in Rumpenheim will be closed during the work. A detour will be signposted. In the field area on the border with Mühlheim, the farm road there will also be closed during the clearing work.

In addition, the detailed implementation planning and preparation of the tender for the two planning sections in Rumpenheim are currently underway. This also includes intensive discussions with the monument protection authorities for the Rumpenheim area. In particular, the sandstone cladding of the technically necessary sheet pile walls, the design of the new dyke gates and the necessary work in the peripheral area of the castle park are being extensively coordinated.