Pricey Spree River Tunnel Construction: BVG Plans to Drain Spree Dry
The Waisentunnel, a historical structure under the Spree in Berlin, is in dire need of renovation. The Berlin transport authority (BVG) has applied for a planning permission procedure to obtain a permit for the Waisentunnel renovation, but the project has faced criticism from political parties such as the SPD and the Left.
The Waisentunnel, opened in 1930, was used for transfer and operational journeys, with no U-Bahn ever running in the western tunnel tube. However, the BVG plans to bring U-Bahn lines onto the Wuhletal and onto the network of Deutsche Bahn, then switching to the Neukölln-Mittenwalder Railway as an alternative to the current renovation project.
The tunnel's dilapidated condition poses a danger to shipping traffic. If a new construction is not realized, the old tunnel must be demolished, albeit the costs of this demolition are not specified. The BVG emphasizes the importance of demolition and notes that the planned new construction would be significantly smaller, with no second track needed.
The renovation of the Waisentunnel could save the BVG money in the future by reducing the need for complex truck transports for U5 train maintenance. Furthermore, the construction of the new Waisentunnel is expected to take about four years and cost around 52 million euros.
The planners of the Ingenieurgemeinschaft ZPP/Amberg have pointed out corresponding dangers in their report. To carry out the renovation, a section of the Spree will be dried up for about four years. After the demolition, sheet pile walls will be driven into the bottom of the river to pump out the Spree water, creating dry construction pits for the new tunnel to be built.
The alternative rail operation model, which involves bringing U-Bahn lines onto the Wuhletal and onto the network of Deutsche Bahn, is not explicitly mentioned in the available information. However, the administration of Mobility Senator Bettina Jarasch emphasized that the alternative would have challenging construction requirements, including crossing private properties and a main traffic street to create a connecting track for the Neukölln-Mittenwalder Railway.
Another advantage of the new construction would be the widening of the Märkisches Ufer, which lost a lot of area during the beginning of the tunnel construction in 1914 and could be widened again in the context of the project.
Kristian Ronneburg of the Left also demands a review, expecting that the reasons for the new construction and its costs are thoroughly explained. The SPD MP Sven Heinemann demands that the BVG tests alternatives to the Waisentunnel, fearing costs of up to 100 million euros.
The Waisentunnel has a rich historical past, including being the scene of an escape from the GDR in 1980. The renovation or alternative construction plans for the Waisentunnel will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the future of Berlin's public transportation system.
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