Over on Mittelhesse.de is an article "Wetzlar-South: Turning the Traffic Jam Around" (in German). Apparently the traffic is already somewhat heavy at the Wetzlar-South exit on the Autbahn, backing up onto the A 45 as 3,000 people make their way into the Spilburg industrial park... And this before 650 employees are set to begin their commute to the new Leica headquarters (called Leitz Park). A local engineering firm was tasked to investigate ways to mitigate the pending increase in traffic and the first recommendations are in. Two roundabouts were initially considered, but will not bring enough relief; additional lanes are now being considered as well.

Translation to English (via Google):

Wetzlar. 3000 people flock every day in the business park Spilburg, most by car. Beginning in 2014 650 Leica employees to the move to the new in the Leitz Park. But the traffic jams are already in the morning hours at the exit Wetzlar-Süd, on the A45 back. As the road traffic authority Hesse mobile wants to solve the problem, explains its representative Willi Kunze site.

"Since Tuesday, we have first results of the investigation," says the agent for mobile Hesse in western Hesse. Because in order to ease the situation on the country road 3451 to avoid tailbacks to the motorway A 45, the Authority has an engineering office in Erfurt tasked to look for solutions. Previously, vehicles were counted in April (see info box) to estimate the traffic volume can. "These are almost big-city relationships here," says Kunze.

Result: Two proposed roundabouts in the area of ​​traffic lights on the left and right of the bridge would not bring enough relief. Therefore, the experts propose to create additional lanes in the area of ​​the commuter parking lot on the regional road. Whether one or two tracks the traffic lights right and left are created, currently can not yet be said.

Extended exit from the north relaxed situation

"Each additional track will help us. Spatially What is feasible, we need to consider," says Harald Wilke, traffic Councillor West Hesse. Sticking point was in the process the bridge over the A45 "As things get tight." A schedule he can not yet name: First, the project must be examined by construction law, then can be started with the planning. Also Wetzlar Mayor Wolfram Dette (FDP) has pointed out this week in the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Wiesbaden on the volume of traffic on the driveway Wetzlar South: "There is willingness there to find a solution I hope that we, the new government assisted." as Bernadette.

He is happy that Hesse mobile've already taken the first "important steps" to congestion - especially between 7.30 und 8.45 clock clock - to prevent. So is the deceleration lanes at the exit Wetzlar South - for motorists coming from the north - has been lengthened and widened. From 180 meters equal one kilometer in length. "This is exceptionally long and brings relief," said Wilke. It lacks only the markings. "The relaxed already enormous," confirms OB Dette. This would situations where quick rear-end collisions could happen prevented. The true Gerhard Brückmann of the project management for construction projects in the Leica Wetzlar: "For us, this extension is important because our employees from the Solmser space will take the B 49 and then take this exit."

Who wants to go straight and after the departure of the L 3451 Wetzlar, also would have been a second change notice: Because you've left and right turned the timing of the two lights of the bridge over the A45 to the traffic direction Wetzlar "Rush -Hour "to meet.

480 meter long viaduct Münchholzhausen must be rebuilt

The fact that the traffic in the coming years will focus on the junction south, Kunze also stressed. Because Wetzlar is surrounded by major construction projects on the A 45 On the one built further north on the viaduct Dorlar. The bridge will be demolished in the area of ​​junction Wetzlar-Ost and by 2017 replaced by a new building. Cost: 50 million euros. The 480 meter long viaduct Münchholzhausen must be newly built for 56 million euros. With the building permit Kunze expects 2014. Duration of the new building: three years.

Nevertheless, it is hoped in Wetzlar to get the rush to the cathedral city in the handle. "After all, we are glad that this city is so attractive and global companies such as Leica settle here. The traffic is a challenge that we are happy," says Economic Affairs Officer Harald Semler (FW).

Traffic count

Hesse mobile has counted on the country road 3451 in the area of ​​exit / driveway Wetzlar South in April 2013 vehicles. On a working day 6-19 clock - the result thus does not cover all the days of load from said Harald Wilke, traffic Councillor West Hesse. Here, 13 941 cars were at the traffic lights at the level of commuter parking lot that day are counted, who went to Wetzlar, or came from the direction of Wetzlar. "This is above average for a country road," Wilke concludes. Almost 14 000 cars corresponds approximately to the average traffic volume of highway B 277, which leads from Wetzlar towards Haiger. (Taf)