A new crossing for pedestrians and cyclists is to be built on Odenwaldring. According to the Mayor and Head of Mobility Sabine Groß, a temporary pedestrian crossing is initially being planned in the area of Schumannstraße, which will allow pedestrians to cross safely from one side of the busy Odenwaldring to the other. "Until now, the existing pedestrian crossings on Richard-Wagner-Straße or at the junction with Sprendlinger Landstraße have had to be used for this. With an additional traffic light, we initially want to shorten the route for pedestrians and create another safe crossing on the busy Odenwaldring," explains Sabine Groß.
An engineering firm has already been commissioned to redesign this junction as part of the establishment of the cycle route. Cyclists coming from the northern or southern section of Schumannstraße are only allowed to turn right into Odenwaldring. To make better use of the cycle lane, it should also be possible in future to cycle straight ahead or turn left. During the planning phase, it emerged that the structural conditions at this point and the existing traffic routing on the Odenwaldring require major adjustments and therefore comparatively extensive planning. As a first step, therefore, a temporary pedestrian traffic light with a mobile power supply is to be installed. This can also be used by cyclists. The engineering firm was commissioned with this work in August. The planning is currently being finalized and the tendering and awarding of contracts is being prepared. "For the subsequent implementation, we are dependent on the weather conditions, but hope for completion - also depending on the delivery times - by the end of the year. Planning for the long-term solution is taking place in parallel," says the head of mobility.
Various on-site adjustments are required for the long-term solution. These include, for example, a larger installation area on the grass verge in the middle of the Odenwaldring and the laying of power lines for the installation of a pedestrian traffic light and a separate traffic light control system for cycle traffic. The turning lanes for motor traffic also need to be changed or shortened. In addition, there is the software programming and the necessary marking and signage work.
"That's why we decided in the summer to create a temporary solution in advance for the transition period so that an additional safe crossing can be created here quickly," says Sabine Groß, referring to the tragic accident in which an 80-year-old pedestrian died on September 8 who had not used any of the existing crosswalks. According to the police, she had wanted to cross the ring road at Schumannstraße and was overlooked by an articulated lorry.