Ottensen will become a car-free paradise: renovation will begin in 2026!

Ottensen will become a car-free paradise: renovation will begin in 2026!

There is an exciting development in the air in Ottensen: the path to a district with fewer cars is becoming concrete. Renovation work will begin in spring 2026 as part of the “Freiraum Ottensen” project, as ndr.de reports. The livelier district, known for its numerous restaurants and shops, wants to redesign the flow of traffic and thus invites both residents and visitors to a hexagonal discourse.

A redesign is planned, which will take around two years. Ottenser Hauptstrasse, Bahrenfelder Strasse and Große Rainstrasse are particularly affected. The renovation will take place in five sections, starting with Bahrenfelder Straße. Here the lanes are being made narrower and the sidewalks and cycle paths are being made wider in order to increase traffic safety and quality of life.

Focus on climate-friendly measures

The idea behind the project is clear: Ottensen should become a livable and climate-friendly district. According to moinzukunft.hamburg one of the core ideas is to reduce vehicle through traffic and instead promote non-motorized means of transport. The “Ottensen makes space” pilot project, which ran from September 2019 to February 2020, served as an important basis for this realignment.

With the introduction of retractable steel bollards that enable automatic license plate recognition, only authorized residents will be allowed entry, while other vehicles will only be allowed to enter the zones twice a day. These measures are part of a comprehensive traffic concept that also includes new parking regulations and improvements to road surfaces for cyclists and pedestrians.

The challenges

It's no secret that traffic calming in Ottensen was a lengthy process. The first attempt in 2019 was stopped by the Hamburg Administrative Court, which led to a revised planning concept. The Altona district office has been working on the new strategy for six years now, including numerous citizen participation. The total cost of the project is around seven million euros.

Citizens will continue to be involved: There will be solutions for delivery traffic that provide active loading zones outside of permitted entry times. However, it should not be forgotten that during the renovation the design of the Alma-Wartenberg-Platz and the Spritzenplatz should also be made attractive, including new bicycle parking spaces, benches and play areas.

The plans for the redesign were published in the summer of 2023 and have been in the coordination process since then. This gives residents the opportunity to comment on the proposals in order to ensure broad acceptance. With a good hand and the support of the community, Ottensen could soon become a real showcase project for environmentally friendly urban planning.