Germany – Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services – Rad- und Fußweg Bottwarbahntrasse, Stadt Heilbronn Los 2 – Lerchenbergtunnel

By expanding the disused section of the Bottwar railway line, the city of Heilbronn will gain a new cycle and footpath connection. The planning of the cycle and footpath on the Bottwar railway line provides a continuous, comfortable and almost car-free cycle and footpath infrastructure as a link between the university in Sontheim via the Südbahnhof to the eastern part of Heilbronn. The footpath is separated from the cycle path by a green strip. The target image is the new Neckar riverbank path 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 both commuters and students as well as pupils. The construction site covers the section of the former Bottwar railway line from the access road at the height of Schwindstraße to the crossing of Charlottenstraße. The section "Am Südbahnhof" between Charlottenstraße and Cäcilienbrunnenstraße is already developed as a shared cycle and footpath 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 access of the cycle and footpath to the existing cycle path in Jägerhausstraße. Taking into account the already developed cycle and footpath between Rathenauplatz and Cäcilienbrunnenstraße (approx. 890 m) and the Lerchenbergtunnel (approx. 400 m), a supra-regional cycle path connection between Sontheimer Landwehr and Jägerhausstraße with a total length of approx. 3.2 km is achieved. 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 dampness, formwork and breakouts. In its current condition, the traffic safety for cyclists and pedestrians is therefore not given. Safety measures are a mandatory prerequisite for the conversion 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 restored. A preliminary design for the tunnel is already available. Since the entire route is to provide a space for recreation in addition to its pure connecting function as cycle infrastructure, bench locations and information pillars about the former Bottwar railway as well as light art and an effect lighting in and on the Lerchenbergtunnel contribute to an attractive space. A potential feeling of insecurity is thereby reduced. For the footpath, staircase facilities are also planned at both tunnel portals. The cycle path category can be classified with a regional connecting function in the group IR III according to ERA or RIN. The target planning speed is therefore between 15 - 20 km/h. The top priority of the measure is to strengthen foot and cycle traffic by creating a safe, comfortable and fast cycle and footpath connection and to close gaps in the existing cycle and footpath network. In the planning, the interests of foot and cycle traffic as well as accessibility must be taken into account: cycle and foot traffic should be separated from each other. Along the route, this is done by a tactile dividing 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 at EU level: Lot 1 – Cycle and Footpath Route This lot includes the planning and construction supervision for the actual cycle and footpath. Specifically, it is about the project planning of the traffic facilities (phases 5–8), the project planning of civil engineering structures for drainage and staircase facilities (phases 1–8), the planning of 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 includes all planning services around the tunnel: the project planning of civil engineering structures (phases 3–8) as well as the structural design (phases 1–3 and 6). In addition, a mobile network should be available in the tunnel, the line coordination and coordination with line operators for the laying of corresponding cables or antennas is also part of this planning task. Lot 3 – Lighting Here, the technical planning for the tunnel lighting (specialist planning Technical Equipment, phases 1–8) as well as the effect lighting is awarded. A separate scope of services will be created for the effect lighting. The awarding in all lots is done step by step.