Bottwar railway line cycle and pedestrian path, City of Heilbronn Lot 3 – Tunnel lighting

Through the expansion of the disused section of the Bottwar railway line, the city of Heilbronn will receive a new cycle and pedestrian path connection. The planning of the pedestrian and cycle path on the Bottwar railway line represents a continuous, comfortable and almost car-free cycle and pedestrian traffic infrastructure as a connection between the university in Sontheim via the Südbahnhof to the east of Heilbronn. The pedestrian traffic is separated from the cycle path by a green strip. The target image is the new Neckaruferweg between Knorrstraße and Wertwiesenpark. The route can be realized relatively cost-effectively, as the track ballast represents an optimal sub-base. The connection offers attractive infrastructure for commuters as well as students and pupils. The construction site includes the section of the former Bottwar railway line from the ramp at Schwindstraße to the crossing of Charlottenstraße. The section "Am Südbahnhof" between Charlottenstraße and Cäcilienbrunnenstraße is already developed as a shared pedestrian and cycle path and is therefore not included in the construction site. The construction site continues with the planned reconstruction of the intersection Cäcilienbrunnenstraße and ends with the ramp of the pedestrian and cycle path onto the existing cycle path in Jägerhausstraße. Considering the already developed pedestrian and cycle path between Rathenauplatz and Cäcilienbrunnenstraße (approx. 890 m) and the Lerchenberg tunnel (approx. 400 m), a superior cycle traffic connection between Sontheimer Landwehr and Jägerhausstraße with a total length of approx. 3.2 km is achieved. The renovation of the Lerchenberg tunnel is also part of this VgV procedure. It has its highest point in the middle of the tunnel and drains towards both tunnel portals. In the longitudinal section, it has a curve. The investigations have shown that the external stability is given. However, due to age, the tunnel shell shows signs of moisture ingress, formwork marks and breakouts. In its current state, traffic safety for cyclists and pedestrians is therefore not guaranteed. Securing measures are a mandatory prerequisite for the reuse of the tunnel. The tunnel must be secured over its entire surface using drainage mats, sealing membranes and sprayed concrete. The tunnel longitudinal drainage must be repaired. Preliminary planning for the tunnel already exists. Since the entire route is intended to provide a space for recreation in addition to its pure connection function as cycle infrastructure, bench locations and information pillars about the former Bottwar railway, as well as light art and effect lighting at and in the Lerchenberg tunnel, contribute to an attractive space. A potential feeling of insecurity is thereby reduced. For pedestrian traffic, staircases are also planned at both tunnel portals. The cycle path category can be classified as regional connection function in group IR III according to ERA or RIN. The target design speed is therefore between 15 - 20 km/h. The primary goal of the measure is to strengthen pedestrian and cycle traffic and close gaps in the existing pedestrian and cycle path network by creating a safe, comfortable and fast pedestrian and cycle path connection. The planning must take into account the interests of pedestrian and cycle traffic as well as accessibility: Pedestrian and cycle traffic should be separated. Along the route, this is done by a tactile separation strip or a green area. The width of the cycle path is consistently 3.0 m, and that of the pedestrian path is 2.5 m. The contract volume includes various engineering services, which are divided into three lots and each advertised separately EU-wide: Lot 1 – Cycle and pedestrian path route This lot includes planning and construction supervision for the actual cycle and pedestrian path. Specifically, it concerns the object planning of traffic facilities (service phases 5–8), the object planning of civil engineering structures for drainage and staircases (service phases 1–8), the planning of open spaces (service phases 5–8) as well as local construction supervision and coordination of lines as a special service. Lot 2 – Tunnel (Lerchenbergtunnel) This lot includes all planning services related to the tunnel: object planning of civil engineering structures (service phases 3–8) and structural planning (service phases 1–3 and 6). In addition, there should be a mobile phone network in the tunnel; coordination and agreement with line operators for the installation 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 of technical equipment, service phases 1–8) as well as the effect lighting according to the service description will be awarded. The commissioning in all lots will be carried out in stages.