New surface for the Weidigweg
15.08.2024 – The Weidigweg footpath and cycle path between Rosenhöhe and Senefelderstraße has been resurfaced by Stadtwerke Offenbach's green department. It is now much easier to use for pedestrians, cyclists, people with walking frames or wheelchairs and parents with baby carriages. After rainfall, puddles were forming on what is commonly known as a gravel path or, in technical terms, a water-bound path surface away from car traffic, and unwanted vegetation was spreading.
City Treasurer Martin Wilhelm is currently finding out about the work being carried out in his areas of responsibility and met Melanie Gessner, Head of the Parks Department, which is commissioning the work, during the work on the construction site. "I know the path from my own bike rides as a bumpy track and I am very pleased that it has been refurbished. It is used by cyclists and pedestrians alike and in its new condition offers many citizens more comfort on their daily journeys. Gravel paths have the advantage that rainwater seeps away quickly and they do not heat up as much as asphalt when exposed to sunlight. Around 160,000 euros have been set aside in the municipal budget for their repair."
The old surface was first roughened in three construction phases, then the construction workers filled in new gravel. After leveling, new gravel was placed on the path. The small stones find their way between the gravel and settle in the gaps. This structure is then rolled in with a damp roller to compact it - hence the name "water-bound surface".
Phenomenon of a March spring in Weidigweg
"The gravel not only evens out the gravel, it also protects users from slippery surfaces in winter," explained Melanie Gessner on site. "The paths are also slightly curved so that water runs off when it rains instead of collecting on the surface. This year, we are also planning to resurface the access road to the Grünring from Schreberstraße, as well as a path in Büsingpark."
In Weidigweg, however, there is the phenomenon of a March spring: a wet spot that only occurs in spring when the ground is still sufficiently saturated with moisture from the fall and winter. Then the additional spring water does not seep away, but bubbles upwards and creates a puddle. A ditch known colloquially as a "Rappelkanal" was created here. This is filled with larger stones, which are also stabilized with gravel, but the spaces between them are not compacted. The water now finds its own way out of the ground and drains to the edge of the path.
For future maintenance, the greenery that slowly grows from the side towards the middle of a gravel path must be removed from time to time. Cleaning is somewhat more difficult than with a smooth asphalt surface: here, sweepers and brooms would remove the gravel from the path. Therefore, garbage can only be removed by hand or with a rake.