Switzerland – Engineering-design services for traffic installations – Réaménagement de la rue de Madretsch ouest - mesures d'accompagnement en matière de circulation (MAC)

Project Description

1) Initial Situation

With the opening of the A5 Eastern Bypass, part of the motorised individual traffic could be diverted onto the motorway, thereby relieving the urban road network. This relief is to be used to make the urban space more attractive and, at the same time, to promote public transport, pedestrian and cycle traffic. Based on the vfM Master Plan, the City of Biel has commissioned a preliminary study to define the concrete implementation steps of these measures. Two complementary objectives are being pursued: on the one hand, the relief effect of the A5 is to be consolidated, and on the other hand, the resulting scope is to be used to optimise both traffic management and the design of public space. The objectives are based on the following planning principles:

· Divertion of through traffic to the high-performance road network

· Concentration of the remaining motorised traffic on a few main axes, the remaining streets serve for the development of the quarters

· Utilisation of the freed capacities to improve traffic conditions taking into account the urban living space.

2) Project Objectives

For a long time, the residential buildings along Madretschstrasse suffered from the strain caused by the high volume of motorised traffic. Thanks to the opening of the Eastern section, the strain has been reduced. However, the western section of Madretschstrasse is still primarily designed for motorised individual traffic. The aim of the project is to counteract this trend through various measures. Along the entire section, the speed limit will be reduced and the carriageway narrowed so that the road will be less of a traffic artery. This will be achieved, among other things, by the installation of a multi-purpose lane. The redesign will enable:

· the speed of motorised traffic to be adapted to that of cyclists,

· pedestrian crossings to be made easier (e.g. by area-wide crossing),

· the dividing effect of the road to be reduced.

In addition, the project aims to strengthen the urban character of the area through:

· high-quality urban and landscape upgrading

· modernisation of bus stops

· conversion of individual parking spaces into meeting places

The project is being carried out in collaboration with ESB. ESB is planning the construction of a district heating network as well as the renovation of the power, gas and water lines. These works are described below and are scheduled for 2027.