Germany – Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services – Rad- und Fußweg Bottwarbahntrasse, Stadt Heilbronn

The expansion of the disused section of the Bottwar railway line will provide the city of Heilbronn with a new cycle and pedestrian path. The planning of the cycle and pedestrian path on the Bottwar railway line will create a continuous, comfortable and almost car-free cycle and pedestrian infrastructure connecting the university in Sontheim via the Südbahnhof to the eastern part of Heilbronn. The pedestrian path is separated from the cycle path by a green strip. The target is the new Neckaruferweg between Knorrstraße and Wertwiesenpark. The route can be realised comparatively cost-effectively, as the ballast provides an optimal substructure. The connection offers an attractive infrastructure for commuters as well as students and pupils. The construction site comprises the section of the former Bottwar railway line from the junction at the level of Schwindstraße to the crossing of Charlottenstraße. The section "Am Südbahnhof" between Charlottenstraße and Cäcilienbrunnenstraße is already developed as a shared cycle and pedestrian path and is therefore not included in the construction site. The construction site continues with the planned reconstruction of the Cäcilienbrunnenstraße junction and ends with the junction of the cycle and pedestrian path to the existing cycle path in Jägerhausstraße. Taking into account the already developed cycle and pedestrian path between Rathenauplatz and Cäcilienbrunnenstraße (approx. 890 m) and the Lerchenbergtunnel (approx. 400 m), a superior cycle route is achieved between Sontheimer Landwehr and Jägerhausstraße with a total length of approx. 3.2 km. The renovation of the Lerchenbergtunnel is also part of this VgV procedure. This has its highest point in the middle of the tunnel and drains towards the two tunnel portals. In longitudinal section, it has a curvature. The investigations have shown that the external stability is given. However, due to age, the tunnel shell shows signs of moisture, formwork and spalling. In its current condition, the traffic safety for cyclists and pedestrians is therefore not given. Safety measures are a prerequisite for the re-use of the tunnel. The tunnel must be secured over its entire surface by means of drainage mats, sealing sheets and sprayed concrete. The tunnel longitudinal drainage must be repaired. A preliminary design for the tunnel is already available. Since the entire route, in addition to its pure connecting function as cycle infrastructure, is also to provide a space for recreation, bench locations and information pillars about the former Bottwar railway as well as light art and an effect lighting in and at the Lerchenbergtunnel contribute to an attractive space. A potential feeling of insecurity is thereby reduced. For the pedestrian traffic, staircases are also planned at both tunnel portals. The cycle route category can be classified with a regional connecting function in group IR III according to ERA or RIN. The target planning speed is therefore between 15 - 20 km/h. The ultimate goal of the measure is to strengthen pedestrian and cycle traffic by creating a safe, comfortable and fast cycle and pedestrian path and to close gaps in the existing cycle and pedestrian path network. When planning, the interests of pedestrian and cycle traffic as well as accessibility must be taken into account: pedestrian and cycle traffic must be separated from each other. This is done along the route by a tactile separator strip or a green area. The width of the cycle path is consistently 3.0 m, that of the footpath 2.5 m. The contract volume includes various engineering services, which are divided into three lots and each tendered separately throughout the EU: Lot 1 – Cycle and pedestrian path This lot includes the planning and construction supervision for the actual cycle and pedestrian path. Specifically, it is about the object planning of the transport facilities (phases 5–8), the object planning of civil engineering structures for drainage and staircases (phases 1–8), the planning of the open spaces (phases 5–8) as well as the local construction supervision and the line coordination as a special service. Lot 2 – Tunnel (Lerchenbergtunnel) This lot comprises all planning services around the tunnel: the object planning of civil engineering structures (phases 1–8) as well as the structural planning (phases 1–3 and 6). Lot 3 – Lighting Here, the technical planning for the tunnel lighting (specialised planning of technical equipment, phases 1–8) as well as the effect lighting is awarded. A separate scope of services is created for the effect lighting. The awarding in all lots is carried out step by step.